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UCLA Report Shows 2025 Decline in Diversity of Streaming Originals Amid Trump-Era DEI Rollback
The UCLA Institute for Entertainment and Media Research Initiative released the second part of its annual Hollywood Diversity Report on Wednesday, focusing on English‑language streaming originals released in 2025. The study examined 89 titles from major platforms—Netflix, Prime Video, and Hulu—and found a sharp decline in representation for both on‑screen talent and key behind‑the‑camera roles.
According to the report, the share of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) actors in leading roles fell to 36 % in 2025, down from 51 % the previous year. BIPOC directors dropped to 31.5 % from 41 %, and BIPOC writers fell to 21.3 % from 30 %. Women in lead roles decreased to 58 % from 61 %, while women directors fell to 23.6 % from 28 %. The percentage of women writers remained roughly flat at 37 %.
The report’s authors note that the decline is occurring even though many of the projects were in development before President Donald Trump’s second term began. “We see a clear trend toward less diversity in 2025, and we expect the situation to worsen as more projects produced during the Trump administration are released,” said co‑author Ana‑Christina Ramón in a statement to Bloomberg.
The findings come at a time when streaming dominates U.S. television consumption. Nielsen data from March 2025 shows that 48 % of all TV viewing in the United States comes from streaming services, compared with 20 % for broadcast TV and 21 % for cable. The same month, 96.4 million households were reported to have a TV connected to a streaming device or service.
The UCLA study is part of a broader trend of political pressure on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. On the first day of his second term, President Trump signed an executive order calling for the termination of what he described as “radical and wasteful” DEI programs in the federal government. The following day, a second order targeted DEI efforts among federal contractors and the private sector. In April, Trump issued an order directing federal contractors and subcontractors not to engage in “racially discriminatory DEI activities.”
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has also taken a hard line. FCC Chair Brendan Carr announced that the agency would end its promotion of DEI programs and warned that a company’s merger plans could face scrutiny over its DEI practices. The FCC’s stance has prompted several media companies to reassess or scale back their DEI efforts. Disney, for example, has announced a reduction in its DEI programs in response to the new regulatory environment.
Industry analysts say the decline in diversity could have long‑term effects on creative pipelines and audience engagement. While the UCLA report does not provide data on audience reception, the reduction in representation may influence the types of stories told and the talent that is hired for future projects.
The report is an early indicator of how political actions may shape the face of media in the coming years. It also highlights the need for continued monitoring of DEI metrics in the streaming sector, which now accounts for nearly half of U.S. television viewing.
As 2026 approaches, stakeholders will be watching to see whether the decline in diversity persists, reverses, or stabilizes. Upcoming releases from Netflix, Prime Video, and Hulu will be key to determining the trajectory of representation in streaming originals.
The UCLA Institute for Entertainment and Media Research Initiative will publish its next report in 2027, which is expected to include updated data on the impact of the Trump administration’s DEI policies and the FCC’s regulatory changes on the industry.
According to the report, the share of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) actors in leading roles fell to 36 % in 2025, down from 51 % the previous year. BIPOC directors dropped to 31.5 % from 41 %, and BIPOC writers fell to 21.3 % from 30 %. Women in lead roles decreased to 58 % from 61 %, while women directors fell to 23.6 % from 28 %. The percentage of women writers remained roughly flat at 37 %.
The report’s authors note that the decline is occurring even though many of the projects were in development before President Donald Trump’s second term began. “We see a clear trend toward less diversity in 2025, and we expect the situation to worsen as more projects produced during the Trump administration are released,” said co‑author Ana‑Christina Ramón in a statement to Bloomberg.
The findings come at a time when streaming dominates U.S. television consumption. Nielsen data from March 2025 shows that 48 % of all TV viewing in the United States comes from streaming services, compared with 20 % for broadcast TV and 21 % for cable. The same month, 96.4 million households were reported to have a TV connected to a streaming device or service.
The UCLA study is part of a broader trend of political pressure on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. On the first day of his second term, President Trump signed an executive order calling for the termination of what he described as “radical and wasteful” DEI programs in the federal government. The following day, a second order targeted DEI efforts among federal contractors and the private sector. In April, Trump issued an order directing federal contractors and subcontractors not to engage in “racially discriminatory DEI activities.”
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has also taken a hard line. FCC Chair Brendan Carr announced that the agency would end its promotion of DEI programs and warned that a company’s merger plans could face scrutiny over its DEI practices. The FCC’s stance has prompted several media companies to reassess or scale back their DEI efforts. Disney, for example, has announced a reduction in its DEI programs in response to the new regulatory environment.
Industry analysts say the decline in diversity could have long‑term effects on creative pipelines and audience engagement. While the UCLA report does not provide data on audience reception, the reduction in representation may influence the types of stories told and the talent that is hired for future projects.
The report is an early indicator of how political actions may shape the face of media in the coming years. It also highlights the need for continued monitoring of DEI metrics in the streaming sector, which now accounts for nearly half of U.S. television viewing.
As 2026 approaches, stakeholders will be watching to see whether the decline in diversity persists, reverses, or stabilizes. Upcoming releases from Netflix, Prime Video, and Hulu will be key to determining the trajectory of representation in streaming originals.
The UCLA Institute for Entertainment and Media Research Initiative will publish its next report in 2027, which is expected to include updated data on the impact of the Trump administration’s DEI policies and the FCC’s regulatory changes on the industry.
