The conservative group wants parents to skip Disney’s new teen witch drama before it premieres Oct. 1 on Freeform. It says the show pushes witchcraft on families. Disney hasn’t responded.
Disney’s new teen witch drama hasn’t even aired yet, and it already has a boycott pledge.
One Million Moms, a project of the American Family Association, is asking parents to promise they won’t support Coven Academy, a supernatural series that premieres Oct. 1 on Freeform.
The group calls the show part of “Disney’s continuing agenda that pushes witchcraft on families.”
What is Disney’s Coven Academy about?
The show follows three teenage witches at an elite magic boarding school in New Orleans. Disney’s official description promises a place “where power is currency, secrets are lethal and attraction is a liability.”
Tim Federle, who created High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, is the creator and showrunner. Malina Pauli Weissman stars as Briar, alongside Malachi Barton, Jordan Leftwich, Ora Duplass and Louis Thresher.
Two familiar ‘90s faces round out the cast. Tiffani Thiessen plays Miss Graves, and Devon Sawa guest stars as Mr. Cole.
The series is rated PG-V. It debuts on Freeform at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Oct. 1, and the full season hits Disney+ and Hulu the next day.
Why is One Million Moms against Coven Academy?
The group believes a show that makes witchcraft look fun and glamorous has no place in front of kids and teens.
Its alert, posted Aug. 19, cites two Bible passages, Isaiah 8:19-22 and Deuteronomy 18:10-11, which warn against sorcery and consulting spirits. For many Christian families, that’s a clear line.
The group also objects to what it saw in the trailer. It points to “teens with anger issues,” a witch sisterhood, forbidden romance and vampires. And it says the show promotes secular worldviews to young viewers.
It even went after the music. The teaser uses “Brutal” by Olivia Rodrigo, whom the alert calls an “avid Planned Parenthood supporter.”
One Million Moms is asking supporters to sign a pledge saying they won’t support Disney or Coven Academy, and to share the alert with friends.
Did Disney respond to the Coven Academy backlash?
Not publicly. No statement from Disney, Freeform or Federle has turned up in any coverage of the campaign.
The alert first went up in August, but it got a second wind in early September. The Christian Post picked it up on Sept. 7, and faith outlets and Disney fan sites followed from there.
So far, the pushback appears to come from One Million Moms alone. We couldn’t find another major group joining in, and the big entertainment trades haven’t covered the campaign.
Was Coven Academy supposed to be on Disney Channel?
It was. When Disney first announced the show in August 2025, the promo said it was “coming next year to Disney+ and Disney Channel.”
Now it’s launching on Freeform instead, the Disney-owned channel aimed at older teens and young adults. That move puts it a notch away from the Disney Channel crowd, though the full season will still sit on Disney+ right next to Bluey.
The show also isn’t set where it was filmed. It takes place in New Orleans but was shot in Vancouver from December 2025 to March 2026.
Has Disney made witch shows before?
Plenty. Witches have been part of Disney’s lineup for decades.
Hocus Pocus came out in 1993 and got a sequel on Disney+ in 2022. Disney Channel’s Halloweentown movies are October regulars. Wizards of Waverly Place ran for four seasons and came back with a sequel series. Marvel’s Agatha All Along put a witch coven front and center on Disney+ in 2024.
Supporters of those titles see them as harmless fantasy, the same as dragons or talking animals. One Million Moms sees the whole category as a spiritual problem, and it has pushed back on Disney content many times before.
Families can watch the trailer and decide for themselves. Disney released the full official trailer on Sept. 18, and the show premieres on Freeform on Oct. 1.
Article compiled with the help of the Pirates & Princesses newsroom.
Pirates and Princesses is your destination for Disney news, theme park updates, and the pop culture you love. From Disney cruises and travel tips to Disney fashion, food, collectibles, and movie news, PNP covers it all. Visit us at piratesandprincesses.net for daily coverage. Follow PNP on Facebook and Instagram, and listen to the Pirates & Princesses podcast on Apple Podcasts and YouTube.
Hat Tips:
One Million Moms (Aug. 19, 2026), the campaign alert, Bible citations, trailer objections and pledge
Disney+ Press (Aug. 13, 2026), official logline, cast, premiere times and executive producers
The Christian Post (Sept. 7, 2026), Anugrah Kumar’s coverage that revived the campaign and the PG-V rating
Wikipedia, the August 2025 Disney Channel announcement and filming dates
The Futon Critic (Sept. 18, 2026), release of the official trailer
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