Boots hit the popular streaming service earlier this month and immediately became a chart-topping success. But it looks like not everyone is a fan.
In an exclusive with Entertainment Weekly, Pentagon Press Secretary Kingsley Wilson expressed his distaste for the new show, calling it “woke garbage.”
“Under President Trump and Secretary [Pete] Hegseth, the U.S. military is getting back to restoring the warrior ethos,” Wilson told the outlet. “Our standards across the board are elite, uniform, and sex neutral because the weight of a rucksack or a human being doesn’t care if you’re a man, a woman, gay, or straight.
“Officials will not compromise our standards to satisfy an ideological agenda, unlike Netflix, whose leadership consistently produces and feeds woke garbage to their audience and children.”
Interesting to say the military is inclusive of everyone, regardless of gender or sexuality, and then call Boots part of an “ideological agenda.”
Hegseth, a former Fox News host and longtime Trump ally, has faced criticism for his anti-LGBTQ+ record. Earlier this year, he ordered the Navy to remove gay right’s activist Harvey Milk’s name from a ship and has pushed to discharge transgender service members and dismantle diversity initiatives within the military.
What Boots Is Really About
Based on Greg Cope White’s memoir The Pink Marine, the series follows Cameron Cope (Miles Heizer), a closeted gay teen who impulsively enlists in the Marines alongside his best friend (Liam Oh).
Thrown into the chaos of boot camp under the ruthless Sgt. Sullivan (Max Parker), Cameron must learn to survive an environment built on discipline, secrecy, and macho bravado—all while navigating his identity in a place that demands conformity.
Heizer told Gayety‘s Josh Azevedo that what drew him to the project was its focus on identity beyond labels:
“One of the things that I love about the show and about Cameron is that his journey is really not about his sexuality,” he said. “It’s really just about self-growth and self-discovery. He’s able to do that because he is comfortable with himself and has someone by his side that uplifts him.”
Oh added that his character’s story is rooted in connection and mutual respect.
“Ray comes from a military family and a military background, so he’s kind of steeped in these traditions of brotherhood and the bonds you forge with the people around you,” he told Gayety. “To him, that extends to anyone who shows him that same loyalty back in kind, regardless of where they come from or what sexuality they have.”
For Max Parker, who plays the intense Sgt. Sullivan, the role offered emotional depth beyond the typical tough-guy archetype.
“It’s a gift to be given a part that goes through all of these different things and has such a well-rounded backstory,.”
The Bigger Picture
While the Pentagon doubles down on its “warrior ethos,” Netflix continues to expand queer storytelling in spaces that have long been off-limits, like the military. Whether that’s “woke” or just overdue representation depends on who you ask.
