Netflix’s gay military drama 'Boots' branded “woke garbage” by Pentagon

The U.S. Department of Defense has sparked controversy after publicly denouncing Netflix’s hit drama Boots, a coming-of-age series centred on a gay teenager navigating life in the Marine Corps during the 1990s. The Pentagon branded the show “woke garbage,” prompting backlash from LGBTQ+ advocates and fans of the series.

In a statement issued to Entertainment Weekly, Pentagon Press Secretary Kingsley Wilson criticised the show’s portrayal of military life, saying: “Under President Trump and Secretary Hegseth, the U.S. military is getting back to restoring the warrior ethos. Our standards are elite, uniform, and sex-neutral. We will not compromise those standards to satisfy an ideological agenda, unlike Netflix, whose leadership consistently produces and feeds woke garbage to their audience and children.”

Boots, which premiered on 9 October, stars Miles Heizer as Cameron Cope, a closeted high school senior who enlists in the Marines alongside his straight best friend. The series is based on Greg Cope White’s memoir The Pink Marine, and explores themes of identity, resilience, and belonging under the shadow of the now-defunct “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy.

Despite the Pentagon’s condemnation, Boots has received widespread acclaim, topping Netflix’s streaming charts and earning a 93% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

The criticism comes amid broader efforts by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth to roll back LGBTQ+ visibility in the military. Earlier this year, Hegseth supported the removal of Harvey Milk’s name from a Navy ship and backed Executive Order 14183, which mandates the discharge of transgender service members.

Netflix has not yet responded to the Pentagon’s remarks, but the show’s creators have defended Boots as a celebration of authenticity and courage. “We believe that authentic storytelling can help bridge gaps and foster understanding,” a Netflix spokesperson said.