The goal behind Netflix’s ‘Boots’ was never to ignite a public storm, but now, things are out of hand. The series follows a closeted teenager struggling through Marine Corps boot camp, which actor Miles Heizer deeply relates to.
He recently revealed that his own coming-out was a nightmare itself. But just as ‘Boots‘ began resonating with viewers for its honesty, the reaction it brought, especially from the Pentagon, was surprising.
‘Boots’ Controversy: A Story Deeply Rooted In Gay Marine Survival
Released on October 9, ‘Boots‘ features Miles Heizer, Vera Farmiga, Blake Burt, Liam Oh, and Max Parker. Based on former Marine Greg Cope White’s memoir ‘The Pink Marine‘, it follows Cameron Cope. He was a gay teen who secretly joined boot camp alongside his straight best friend, under the harsh rule of Sgt. Sullivan hides everything about himself. However, his emotionally distant mother remains unaware of where he’s gone.
Related: 20 Best Shows That Honor Queer Voices, Ranked
Before any backlash began, Heizer openly shared how the role mirrors his reality. Born in Greenville, Kentucky, in 1994, he said coming out to his “super-conservative family” at 19 was devastating. In fact, he described it as a nightmare where most people were upset, except his sister, who stood firmly by him. Moving to Los Angeles for acting, he said, finally opened his eyes to a world where he didn’t have to hide.
Now that his emotional weight is behind it, ‘Boots‘ gained attention as a rare look at identity behind rigid walls. Yet, while viewers saw vulnerability, someone else saw something very different.
When Entertainment Weekly sought official reaction, Pentagon Press Secretary Kingsley Wilson responded with a strong statement. He said that under President Donald Trump and Secretary Pete Hegseth, the U.S. military is restoring the warrior ethos. He stressed that standards are elite, uniform, and sex-neutral, noting that “the weight of a rucksack or a human being doesn’t care if you’re a man, woman, gay, or straight.”
However, Wilson made it clear that the military would not align itself with the themes presented by Netflix. He directly accused the platform’s leadership of promoting an ideological agenda and producing what he referred to as “woke garbage” aimed at audiences and children.
A Much Bigger Cultural Battle
What added more fuel to this fire is the ongoing controversy involving Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth. In June, he ordered the removal of Harvey Milk’s name, the assassinated gay rights activist and former Navy officer, from a U.S. Navy ship.
In case you missed it: 10 Must-Watch Political Drama Films Based On Real Events
Before that, he pushed to remove transgender service members as part of broader efforts to roll back diversity and inclusion policies. And in September, he reportedly met with top military leaders in Virginia, vowing to eliminate what he called “woke culture” from the armed forces.
Now that ‘Boots‘ is already in the spotlight, it has become part of the clash between on-screen representation and authority. The series was released as a story about truth, secrecy, and survival. But now, the Pentagon’s remarks have become part of a much larger conversation about who has the right to define the image of the military and how far creative storytelling can go when it challenges tradition.
