The Pentagon has publicly criticized Netflix following the debut of its new drama Boots. The series, centered on a young gay Marine’s experience during boot camp, has sparked political debate over the portrayal of LGBTQ characters in military settings. The controversy has drawn attention to ongoing tensions between entertainment portrayals and official military messaging.
Pentagon criticizes Netflix following the release of gay military drama series Boots
The Pentagon has criticized Netflix following the release of the streaming platform’s new gay military drama Boots.
In a statement to Entertainment Weekly, Pentagon Press Secretary Kingsley Wilson said, “Under President Trump and Secretary [Pete] Hegseth, the U.S. military is getting back to restoring the warrior ethos. Our standards across the board are elite, uniform, and sex neutral because the weight of a rucksack or a human being doesn’t care if you’re a man, a woman, gay, or straight.”
Wilson added that officials “will not compromise our standards to satisfy an ideological agenda, unlike Netflix, whose leadership consistently produces and feeds woke garbage to their audience and children.” The Pentagon’s remarks were issued as Boots continued to trend on Netflix’s viewership charts following its October 9 debut.
The eight-episode drama stars Miles Heizer and Vera Farmiga and is based on former Marine Greg Cope White’s memoir The Pink Marine. The series follows a closeted gay teenager who enlists in the U.S. Marine Corps alongside his straight best friend, training under a demanding sergeant while his mother worries from home.
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, a former Fox News personality, has previously faced criticism for his anti-LGBTQ stances. In June, he ordered the removal of Harvey Milk’s name from a Navy ship and has worked to eliminate diversity and inclusion initiatives within the military.
Heizer, who plays the lead, told Variety that he related to his character’s struggle, describing his own coming-out experience as a “nightmare” with his “super-conservative, religious family.” He added that support from his sister and friends helped him through the process.
Boots is now streaming on Netflix.
Originally reported by Vritti Johar on ComingSoon.net.
