Miles Heizer has shared a lengthy statement following Netflix’s highly controversial decision to cancel Boots.
On 16 December, Deadline reported that the streamer would not be moving forward with a second season of the gay military drama, which was inspired by former U.S. Marine Greg Cope White’s memoir The Pink Marine.
The news was met with widespread backlash, particularly as the series was a bona fide success: it debuted with 9.4 million views in its first week — a figure that doubled in its second week after the Pentagon described it as “woke garbage”. Boots ultimately spent four weeks in Netflix’s top 10, where it peaked at number two.
Deadline noted that the decision was not a “straightforward cancellation”, reporting that the show had “internal support” and that Netflix held conversations with Boots studio Sony Pictures while “analyzing long-tail viewership data”.
Heizer addressed the cancellation in an Instagram post on 17 December, writing: “I want to thank everyone for the overwhelming love and support they gave this show. It truly shattered my expectations, and I couldn’t be more grateful.”
The 13 Reasons Why star led the series as Cameron Cope, a closeted, directionless teen who enlists in the U.S. Marine Corps alongside his best friend Ray McAffey (Liam Oh).
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“First and foremost, thank you to @eatgregeat for telling his story and trusting us to retell it through Boots. And thank you to the LGBTQ community that came before me who fought for a world where a show like this could get made,” Heizer continued.
“I grew up so afraid of what being gay would mean for my life. So to be on the other side of that, feeling so uplifted and supported, is still insane to me. Yes, I’m pretty disappointed we won’t be returning. But the friends I made and being called woke garbage by the Pentagon are things I will cherish for the rest of my life.
“Thank you so much to everyone who fought to get this show made. It was such a privilege to be a part of it and I’m eternally grateful to have had this opportunity. Truly, thank you.”
Heizer’s post prompted thousands of comments condemning Netflix’s decision, alongside an outpouring of love and support from his co-stars.
Angus O’Brien wrote: “I love you so much thank god this show brought us together.”
“Love you all so much, family for the rest of my life,” commented Brandon Tyler Moore, while Blake C. Burt added: “Love you @younggoth I’m lucky to have gained a brother and friend in you. On to the next.”
Kieron Moore shared: “They can take away Boots but they can’t take away my brothers.”
Also starring Vera Farmiga, Max Parker, Nicholas Logan, Rico Paris, Dominic Goodman and Jack Cameron Kay, Boots received widespread acclaim from critics, earning a 90% score on Rotten Tomatoes. Praise was directed at its performances, exploration of masculinity and queerness, and its subversion of boot-camp tropes.
Boots now joins a growing list of LGBTQIA+ shows — including The Bastard Son & The Devil Himself, Everything Now, First Kill, Glamorous, I Am Not Okay With This, Q-Force, Smiley and Uncoupled — that were cut short by Netflix after just one season.
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