The cancellation of Boots, a beloved gay drama set in the U.S. Marine Corps, remains one of the most puzzling LGBTQ+ TV decisions of 2025. Despite being the final project from television icon Norman Lear, and reportedly outperforming the viewership of several shows that were renewed, Boots was not given a second season. Now, Ted Sarandos has publicly addressed the controversy for the first time.
Speaking to Variety’s Marc Malkin on the red carpet at the Directors Guild of America Awards, Sarandos denied speculation that political pressure influenced the decision.
“There was some talk about Boots being canceled,” Malkin said. “People were surprised it didn’t get a second season, and people assumed it was because the Department of War went after it. Did that have anything to do with that decision?”
“Absolutely not,” Sarandos replied.
“These are all business decisions based on audience relative to the cost of the show. Do the people who push play watch it till the end? Do they give it a couple of thumbs up? Does it keep growing? All of those things. That decision is made every day.”
Sarandos acknowledged the emotional reaction from fans, particularly given the legacy behind the series.
“The beauty of why people get upset when you cancel a show is because they love them. That’s the best part about our business, it’s that people really love the product. And it’s heartbreaking to cancel any show, ever, particularly a show that Norman Lear brought to me. It was his last show.”
When Malkin remarked, “I loved that show,” Sarandos responded simply:
“I’m a fan.”
Politics or Performance?
Speculation around political interference stemmed from comments by Pentagon Press Secretary Kingsley Wilson, who previously described the series as “woke garbage.”
That criticism fuelled online theories that the show’s military setting — combined with its unapologetically queer lens — may have made it a political target.
However, Netflix maintains the decision was driven purely by internal metrics, including completion rates, growth trends, and cost-to-performance ratios.
A Rare Queer Ensemble
Based on the memoir The Pink Marine by Greg Cope White, Boots stood out for its cast of five openly gay actors, including Miles Heizer, Max Parker, Sachin Bhatt, Angus O’Brien, and Jack Cameron Kay.
Behind the scenes, the show was helmed by queer creatives, including showrunner Andy Parker, writer Dominic Cólon, and director Peter Hoar.
The series premiered to strong social media engagement and quickly became a viral talking point. Yet just two months after its debut, Netflix confirmed it would not move forward with season two — a decision that left fans frustrated and confused.
While Sarandos insists it was strictly business, for many viewers, the loss of Boots still feels personal — especially as one of the final creative chapters from Norman Lear.
Netflix Co-CEO Denies That Politics Was Behind ‘Boots’ Cancellation
The cancellation of Boots, a beloved gay drama set in the U.S. Marine Corps, remains one of the most puzzling LGBTQ+ TV decisions of 2025. Despite being the final project from television icon Norman Lear, and reportedly outperforming the viewership of several shows that were renewed, Boots was not given a second season. Now, Ted Sarandos has publicly addressed the controversy for the first time.
Speaking to Variety’s Marc Malkin on the red carpet at the Directors Guild of America Awards, Sarandos denied speculation that political pressure influenced the decision.
“There was some talk about Boots being canceled,” Malkin said. “People were surprised it didn’t get a second season, and people assumed it was because the Department of War went after it. Did that have anything to do with that decision?”
Sarandos acknowledged the emotional reaction from fans, particularly given the legacy behind the series.
When Malkin remarked, “I loved that show,” Sarandos responded simply:
Politics or Performance?
Speculation around political interference stemmed from comments by Pentagon Press Secretary Kingsley Wilson, who previously described the series as “woke garbage.”
That criticism fuelled online theories that the show’s military setting — combined with its unapologetically queer lens — may have made it a political target.
However, Netflix maintains the decision was driven purely by internal metrics, including completion rates, growth trends, and cost-to-performance ratios.
A Rare Queer Ensemble
Based on the memoir The Pink Marine by Greg Cope White, Boots stood out for its cast of five openly gay actors, including Miles Heizer, Max Parker, Sachin Bhatt, Angus O’Brien, and Jack Cameron Kay.
Behind the scenes, the show was helmed by queer creatives, including showrunner Andy Parker, writer Dominic Cólon, and director Peter Hoar.
The series premiered to strong social media engagement and quickly became a viral talking point. Yet just two months after its debut, Netflix confirmed it would not move forward with season two — a decision that left fans frustrated and confused.
While Sarandos insists it was strictly business, for many viewers, the loss of Boots still feels personal — especially as one of the final creative chapters from Norman Lear.
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