Netflix ‘quietly dumps’ kids’ show Ridley Jones about a bison who comes out as non-binary to its grandma played by Cyndi Lauper – as lesbian creator says it got ‘no promotion’

Netflix has ‘quietly canceled’ a woke animated kids’ show which features a bison who comes out as non-binary to its grandmother.   

Ridley Jones released its fifth and final season last week, which was not given any promotion, the show’s creator Chris Nee claimed in a tweet. 

The two-time Kidscreen Award winner and Emmy nominee series received harsh criticism online following the release of Episode 8 of Season 5, ‘Herd Day’ which centers around a bison called Fred, who comes out as non-binary to their grandmother – who is voiced by Cyndi Lauper.

Some viewers blasted the show on Twitter claiming Fred’s non-binary identity was slipped into the show’s narrative. 

‘Do your kids watch Ridley Jones?’ one viewer asked. ‘It features a female bison who identifies as neither female nor male and wants to be referred to with ‘they/them’ pronouns. Quietly slipped in there. Drip drip drip… What a message to send to young girls in particular.’

Ridley Jones’ creator Chris Nee says the show’s fifth and final season, released last week, was not given any promotion

The creator, who is a lesbian mom, addressed the cancelation in a tweet last Wednesday.

‘Doesn’t surprise me that Netflix has quietly dumped the first preschool show that has a non-binary character coming out. I realize in this day and age dumped means many things. Just zero promotion of the episode.’ 

She continued: ‘Oh and yes, this is the end of the series. They cancelled us after what they just put out. They threw all the specials, the xmas special (now?), the feature length special, the CYNDI LAUPER episode and just quietly slipped it onto the service. So this is it.’

Ridley Jones is about a ‘bold and curious’ girl named Ridley (Iara Nemirovsky) who lives in a magical museum with her mother and grandmother and has adventures with her non-binary bison Fred, voiced by Iris Menas, and Mummy Girl Ismat, voiced by Ashlyn Madden, who has two dad mummies, Andrew Rannells and Chris Colfer.

When the show first launched in 2021, Nee said: ‘I am here to change the world. Or retire trying. I know what it is to be ‘othered’. My job is to show the world as I want it to be.’

The latest episode centers around Fred the non-binary bison who is attempting to prove itself as a full member of the herd by leading the stampede. They are also hoping to impress Grandma Dottie. 

Episode 8 of Season 5, ‘Herd Day’ centers a bison called Fred, who comes out as non-binary and their name and pronouns to their grandma – who is voiced by Cyndi Lauper

Ridley Jones is about a ‘bold and curious’ girl named Ridley who lives in a magical museum with her mother and grandmother and has adventures with her non-binary bison Fred

Some viewers blasted the show claiming Fred’s non-binary identity was slipped into narrative

Fred, who has gone by the name and they/them pronouns throughout the show, says notes to their friends that they used different ones when they last saw their Grandma Dottie – who is voiced by Lauper in a New York accent.

When the grandmother unintentionally refers to them as their previous name, Fred is upset and eventually decides to tell her and has the support of their friends.  

‘If you’re ready, we support you,’ Ridley tells them. 

When Fred finally gets the courage, they say: ‘My heart says that the way I feel most myself is to go by the name Fred. That’s because I’m nonbinary and Fred is the name that fits me best. And I also use ‘they’ and ‘them,’ because calling me a she or a he doesn’t feel right to me.’

Grandma Dottie is understanding of Fred and apologizes, adding that she knows they’ll be a tough stampede leader.

The episode centers around Fred the non-binary bison who is attempting to prove itself as a full member of the herd by leading the stampede. They are also hoping to impress Grandma 

When the grandmother unintentionally refers to them as their previous name, Fred is upset and eventually decides to tell her and has the support of their friends

While some viewers were taken aback by the episode, others pointed out that this isn’t the first time Fred’s identity has been addressed. 

In Season 2, Episode 2, ‘Bison Ball,’ their friend offers to help dress them in a ballgown and fancy hairdo for the ball – but Fred insists on a suit makes them feel more like themself.

On Tuesday, Ryan James Girdusky posted a tweet with the clip from the show writing: ‘A new Netflix show tells children to question their sex and pronouns… this is beyond gross.’

Twitter users were quick to respond with their own criticisms.  

One Twitter user responded: ‘Livestock is non binary? Now I am confused…’

Another commented: ‘Netflix can take their woke garbage and shove it.’

However, others defended the show. 

Twitter user Ryan James Girdusky posted a tweet with the clip from the show writing: ‘A new Netflix show tells children to question their sex and pronouns… this is beyond gross’

One Twitter user responded: ‘Livestock is non binary? Now I am confused…’

‘It is not telling children to question their pronouns,’ one Twitter user wrote. ‘The character in the show is expressing how they are feeling.’

Another one pointed out: 

‘Or…maybe…what that clip actually says is kids should be able to tell grownups how they feel about themselves, and, if the grownups care about the kid’s feelings, they might take a moment to consider, and then actually respect the child’s feelings and let the child know they do?’

Other viewers took to Twitter to defend the show and its message

Other viewers took to Twitter to defend the show and its message

While the Ridley Jones series has been canceled, it is still available to stream on Netflix. All 15 episodes of the new season are included. 

Dailymail.com has reached out to Netflix for comment on the cancelation.  

Last week, Nee posted a tweet urging viewers to watch the show. 

‘Go watch it. Show your kids. It’s on Netflix. It’s important. It’s a roadmap for coming out but also for having someone else tell you they’ve changed their pronouns and/or name.’