Former President Barack Obama is facing criticism online for an episode of Ada Twist, Scientist, a children's show that his company produces, that featured a wedding between two male characters.
Ada Twist, Scientist is about "an eight-year-old Black scientist [who] explores people through scientific discovery, collaboration and friendship with the help of her two best friends, Rosie and Iggy," according to Rotten Tomatoes. The show is streamed on Netflix and is co-produced by Barack and Michelle Obama's company, Higher Ground Production.
"Episode of 'Ada Twist, Scientist' on Netflix showcases young students coming together to set up and celebrate their teacher's gay wedding. This is aimed at preschoolers. Barack and Michelle Obama are the executive producers," Libs of TikTok wrote on X, formerly Twitter, on Thursday sharing a clip of the episode. "Received this from a parent who let her kids watch it as it's a popular show and she says she was shocked and horrified to see this and wouldn't let her children watch it anymore. This is supposed to be a show about science!"
A number of other X users criticized Obama following the post from Libs of TikTok that featured a clip of the wedding between the characters Sensei Dave and Jiu Jitsu Joe. According to Rotten Tomatoes, the episode originally aired on April 22, 2023, but the clip has resurfaced on social media this week. Meanwhile, the Libs of TikTok account has continued to gain popularity on social media, mainly from conservatives. The account has often criticized the LGBTQ+ community as well as members of the Democratic Party.
"Anyone who claimed to be a Christian and supported Obama... look at what he is doing to promote Trans ideology to kids! Never vote for democrats for any office. They will always make things worse. Republicans have issues, but the worst Republican is 1,000 times better than a Dem!" radio host Christopher Calvin Reid wrote on X on Thursday.
X user Shari Wagoner wrote, "Disgusting! Wouldn't you know the Obama's are the executive producers of this grooming garbage."
Similarly, user @jamieroderickmc commented, "This is the brave new world envisioned by the Obamas? This is their improvement over traditional America? What absolute, pathetic frauds."
Meanwhile, other users also criticized Netflix including user @DJoshShow who wrote on Friday morning, "Sorry @Netflix you've lost me. I'm pro LGB but not for kids. I've just cancelled my subscription. Goodbye."
User @politenomoreUSA commented, "I'm won't let my 8 year old watch Netflix unaccompanied. No one should be leaving a preschooler alone with Netflix."
On the other hand, X user @Lion2Ya shared an image from the PBS show Arthur, which also featured a marriage between two male characters.
"Oh my goodness, gay teachers on kid shows can get married in front of their students after Arthur and his friends saw Mr. Nigel Ratburn go down the aisle with his husband Patrick..." the post said. "Ada Twist, Scientist on @netflix just copied PBS haha."
Newsweek reached out to the Obama Foundation via email for comment.
Conservatives continue their push against the LGBTQ+ community with fears that children would be "groomed" to become gay or transgender. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is currently tracking more than 500 anti-LGBTQ bills across the United States as conservatives call for the end of "wokeness." The term woke was first used by Black communities and refers to someone who is educated on social injustice and racial inequality. The word is used by conservatives as a jab to progressive values.
The criticism on social media comes shortly after the Obamas' production company faced backlash for a movie they co-produced on Netflix, Leave the World Behind. Some social media users said the movie "warns" the world about white people, while others called it "racist."
On Rotten Tomatoes, some users slammed the movie with one-star reviews, including one person who wrote, "Cringeworthy perfectly describes the movie. Save yourself the pain and lost time, and skip this movie."
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Matthew Impelli is a Newsweek staff writer based in New York. His focus is reporting social issues and crime. In ... Read more
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