Pentagon Slams, Netflix soars! «Woke Garbage» Jibe Sends Boots Blazing Up the Charts

Pentagon Slam Backfires: Netflix’s «Boots» Soars After «Woke Garbage» Jab

From controversy to chart-topper—Netflix’s latest drama «Boots» is marching straight into the spotlight, thanks to an unexpected boost from the Pentagon.

In a twist worthy of its own episode, Netflix’s LGBTQ+ military series Boots has skyrocketed to No. 2 on the U.S. charts and No. 4 in the UK after Pentagon press secretary Kingsley Wilson branded it «woke garbage». The show, based on Greg Cope White’s memoir «The Pink Marine», follows a closeted teen (played by «13 Reasons Why» star Miles Heizer) who enlists in the U.S. Marine Corps during the 1990s—an era when being openly gay in the military was still illegal.

«Boots» dives deep into the emotional and physical trials of queer identity in a hyper-masculine institution, and it seems the Pentagon’s attempt to dismiss it only fueled its rise. Wilson’s fiery statement accused Netflix of «feeding woke garbage to their audience and children», according to The Independent.

But instead of tanking the show, the backlash turned into a publicity goldmine.

«I guess we have to give some credit to the Pentagon there, don’t we?» joked show creator Andy Parker in an interview with Vanity Fair, clearly amused by the irony.

The timing of Wilson’s remarks—coming in the wake of renewed scrutiny over the Trump-era ban on transgender troops—has only amplified the drama’s relevance. As The Independent notes, the show’s success reflects a growing appetite for stories that challenge outdated norms and spotlight marginalised voices.

Whether you call it «woke» or just well-written, Boots is marching to victory—and the Pentagon may have unwittingly handed it the megaphone.