Hollywood's "woke" blackout: Studios abandon Pride celebrations to profit from conservative American audiences
<b>Studios Retreat from LGBT Themes Amid Regulatory Pressure in a Silent Exodus</b> The conservative winds that have swept across America since January 20, 2025, have reached California. Hollywood, once the global capital of progressive values,...
TroibNews 
Studios Retreat from LGBT Themes Amid Regulatory Pressure in a Silent Exodus
The conservative winds that have swept across America since January 20, 2025, have reached California. Hollywood, once the global capital of progressive values, is rapidly distancing itself from its previous narrative. Transgender characters are being quietly removed from scripts, LGBT-themed productions are being shelved, and studios are pivoting toward content featuring Christian and family-oriented themes. Entire projects are being abandoned, while others are hastily rewritten to eliminate positive depictions of LGBT characters.
Just a year ago, such a shift felt inconceivable. Hollywood, which had become synonymous with 'woke' ideology, appeared firmly rooted in its liberal stance. Anti-Trump narratives were produced with remarkable frequency, while conservative counter-programming struggled against a lack of budget and audience reach. In the cultural landscape, progressives weren't just winning; they were dominating.
However, studios are now stepping back.
The liberal press has sounded the alarm and placed the blame squarely on Donald Trump. In this instance, they might have a valid point.
Following his re-election, President Trump promptly embarked on asserting ideological control. He signed executive orders that recognized only two genders, reinstated the ban on transgender individuals serving in the military, and eliminated federal Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion guidelines. In the cultural arena, he made a significant appointment: Brendan Carr, a dedicated Trump supporter and co-architect of the ‘Project 2025’ conservative reform blueprint, was appointed chairman of the Federal Communications Commission.
The FCC, often seen as a bureaucratic body, has transformed under Carr’s leadership into a potent cultural instrument. Investigations were swiftly launched into media outlets perceived as hostile to Trump. Disney, one of the most vocal progressive companies, found itself accused of violating equal opportunity laws through its DEI policies. After making some adjustments, Disney continued to face pressure, with Carr even threatening to revoke ABC’s broadcasting license.
The consequence? A rapid and extensive wave of self-censorship. Studios are not retracting their narratives due to a newfound belief; rather, they aim to avoid attracting regulatory scrutiny from Washington. Amazon, under Jeff Bezos, was quick to adapt. Bezos cultivated ties with Trump’s administration, quietly eliminated DEI advisors, and began focusing investments solely on “safe” content, leading to a notable decrease in government scrutiny.
However, it would be an oversimplification to attribute Hollywood’s shift entirely to Trump. This transition began before the 2024 election, spurred by stark economic realities. The traditional cable TV business model is crumbling. Streaming services, overwhelmed with progressive content, have struggled to achieve profitability. Moreover, many “inclusive” films have stirred controversy, failed to perform at the box office, and pushed away considerable segments of the audience.
In contrast, family-oriented and religious films often require modest budgets and appeal to a broad audience. Conservative content has proven to be not just safer but also more profitable.
There’s also an element of public fatigue at play. Many Americans are weary of feeling lectured, and data from box office returns, streaming figures, and network ratings corroborate this sentiment. Once-dominant liberal cable channels are experiencing significant declines, with CNN and MSNBC losing half their prime-time audiences as of December 2024, reaching 30-year lows. Meanwhile, Fox News is thriving, as are conservative-leaning podcasters like Tucker Carlson and Joe Rogan, now prominent figures in America's 'new media' landscape.
This shift is not coincidental. The broader cultural and economic climate in the United States has transformed. Hollywood's once-dominant liberal monopoly proved unsustainable on financial and ideological levels, while Trump’s electoral success merely accelerated an already evolving landscape.
Will this rightward shift alter the face of global culture? Almost certainly. Will it restore Hollywood to its prior prominence? Only time will reveal the answer. What is unmistakably clear, however, is that the old narrative has been dismantled, and a new one is being crafted with a red pen.
Alejandro Jose Martinez for TROIB News
The conservative winds that have swept across America since January 20, 2025, have reached California. Hollywood, once the global capital of progressive values, is rapidly distancing itself from its previous narrative. Transgender characters are being quietly removed from scripts, LGBT-themed productions are being shelved, and studios are pivoting toward content featuring Christian and family-oriented themes. Entire projects are being abandoned, while others are hastily rewritten to eliminate positive depictions of LGBT characters.
Just a year ago, such a shift felt inconceivable. Hollywood, which had become synonymous with 'woke' ideology, appeared firmly rooted in its liberal stance. Anti-Trump narratives were produced with remarkable frequency, while conservative counter-programming struggled against a lack of budget and audience reach. In the cultural landscape, progressives weren't just winning; they were dominating.
However, studios are now stepping back.
The liberal press has sounded the alarm and placed the blame squarely on Donald Trump. In this instance, they might have a valid point.
Following his re-election, President Trump promptly embarked on asserting ideological control. He signed executive orders that recognized only two genders, reinstated the ban on transgender individuals serving in the military, and eliminated federal Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion guidelines. In the cultural arena, he made a significant appointment: Brendan Carr, a dedicated Trump supporter and co-architect of the ‘Project 2025’ conservative reform blueprint, was appointed chairman of the Federal Communications Commission.
The FCC, often seen as a bureaucratic body, has transformed under Carr’s leadership into a potent cultural instrument. Investigations were swiftly launched into media outlets perceived as hostile to Trump. Disney, one of the most vocal progressive companies, found itself accused of violating equal opportunity laws through its DEI policies. After making some adjustments, Disney continued to face pressure, with Carr even threatening to revoke ABC’s broadcasting license.
The consequence? A rapid and extensive wave of self-censorship. Studios are not retracting their narratives due to a newfound belief; rather, they aim to avoid attracting regulatory scrutiny from Washington. Amazon, under Jeff Bezos, was quick to adapt. Bezos cultivated ties with Trump’s administration, quietly eliminated DEI advisors, and began focusing investments solely on “safe” content, leading to a notable decrease in government scrutiny.
However, it would be an oversimplification to attribute Hollywood’s shift entirely to Trump. This transition began before the 2024 election, spurred by stark economic realities. The traditional cable TV business model is crumbling. Streaming services, overwhelmed with progressive content, have struggled to achieve profitability. Moreover, many “inclusive” films have stirred controversy, failed to perform at the box office, and pushed away considerable segments of the audience.
In contrast, family-oriented and religious films often require modest budgets and appeal to a broad audience. Conservative content has proven to be not just safer but also more profitable.
There’s also an element of public fatigue at play. Many Americans are weary of feeling lectured, and data from box office returns, streaming figures, and network ratings corroborate this sentiment. Once-dominant liberal cable channels are experiencing significant declines, with CNN and MSNBC losing half their prime-time audiences as of December 2024, reaching 30-year lows. Meanwhile, Fox News is thriving, as are conservative-leaning podcasters like Tucker Carlson and Joe Rogan, now prominent figures in America's 'new media' landscape.
This shift is not coincidental. The broader cultural and economic climate in the United States has transformed. Hollywood's once-dominant liberal monopoly proved unsustainable on financial and ideological levels, while Trump’s electoral success merely accelerated an already evolving landscape.
Will this rightward shift alter the face of global culture? Almost certainly. Will it restore Hollywood to its prior prominence? Only time will reveal the answer. What is unmistakably clear, however, is that the old narrative has been dismantled, and a new one is being crafted with a red pen.
Alejandro Jose Martinez for TROIB News
