Disney+ has canceled its Goosebumps reboot, a teen horror series that critics say injected sexual themes and LGBTQ messaging into programming aimed at children. The streaming platform quietly dropped the show, which featured Friends actor David Schwimmer and trans-identifying activist Miles McKenna, after just one season. The cancellation follows the removal of other Disney+ titles praised for “queer representation,” including The Acolyte and Willow.
According to Pink News, the series included a controversial scene in episode six, written by lesbian author Mariko Tamaki, in which two teen characters, Cece and Alex, share a kiss framed as the most significant romantic moment in the show. Critics argue that the inclusion of a same-sex romantic plotline in a children’s program represents another example of Disney targeting young audiences with sexualized content under the guise of diversity.
Opponents of the trend contend that themes of sexual identity in youth programming cross a moral boundary, undermining parental authority and exposing children to adult concepts prematurely. Supporters of traditional family values argue that while entertainment for LGBTQ audiences has a place, it should be separate from children’s programming.
The controversy surrounding Goosebumps is the latest in a series of public relations challenges for Disney, which in recent years has faced sharp criticism for prioritizing progressive social messaging over family-friendly storytelling. The company, once regarded as a cultural guardian of childhood innocence, is now seen by many parents as a vehicle for ideological activism.
As more streaming platforms compete for subscribers, Disney’s choice to embed sexual identity themes into shows aimed at younger viewers has fueled calls for parents to closely monitor what their children watch — and for the entertainment industry to return to age-appropriate boundaries in youth content.
