Some film critics have also weighed in on the controversy and highlighted the merits of the film. “It’s an award-winning film and a powerful story about the pressure young girls face on social media and from society more generally growing up - and we’d encourage anyone who cares about these important issues to watch the movie,” a Netflix spokesperson said in a statement. Melissa Henson, program director for the Parents Television Council, said that it “normalizes the sexualization of little girls,” and over 640,000 accounts have signed a petition calling on users to cancel their Netflix accounts over the film.īut this time Netflix is not apologizing. “Netflix, you are now complicit,” Gabbard continued. Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii, in a Twitter post called “Cuties” “child porn” and included a photo of the recalled poster and wrote that it will “certainly whet the appetite of pedophiles & help fuel the child sex trafficking trade.” The criticism is not just from Republicans. Josh Hawley, a Republican, also sent a letter to Netflix CEO Reed Hastings asking for the film to be removed from the platform while he awaits answers about how the film was made and marketed.
Andy Biggs of Arizona also want DOJ to investigate. On Sunday in an interview on the Fox News Channel, Cruz elaborated that Netflix is “making money by selling the sexual exploitation of young kids.” Cruz and others have made it a sticking point that Netflix has a production deal with former President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama, although neither have any association with “Cuties.”Ĭongressman Ken Buck of Colorado tweeted that he and Rep.
Cruz in his letter to Attorney General William Barr asked that they, “determine whether Netflix, its executives, or the individuals involved in the filming and production of ‘Cuties’ violated any federal laws against the production and distribution of child pornography.” Tom Cotton of Arkansas called on the Department of Justice to investigate the film’s production and distribution. Late last week, Republicans Cruz and U.S. But because Netflix’s promotional materials caught the attention of the internet and even led to an apology from the streaming giant and the removal of the posters, “Cuties” was thrust onto the national stage. It is the kind of film (foreign-language and with no stars from a first-time director) that would otherwise have gone under the radar. Netflix acquired “Cuties” out of the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year where it was favorably reviewed and won an award for its direction. They talk about Kim Kardashian and diets, practice “twerking” and giggle about boys and sex-related things that they don’t yet understand. She becomes fascinated with a clique of rebellious girls at her middle school who choreograph dance routines and wear crop tops and heels. Written and directed by Maïmouna Doucouré, “Cuties” is about an 11-year-old Senegalese immigrant named Amy (Fathia Youssouf) who is living in an impoverished Paris suburb with her observant Muslim family. Netflix said in a statement that it is a, “social commentary against the sexualization of young children.” The campaign against the film, which includes calls for the Department of Justice to investigate it and hundreds of thousands calling for subscribers to cancel their Netflix accounts, is riddled with inaccuracies due in part to the fact that some critics have not seen the film (one claims that there is child nudity when there is not).
#Netflix cuties movie
Ted Cruz of Texas, and others online calling for subscribers to #CancelNetflix.Īt the heart of the backlash is the idea that “Cuties” is dangerously and irresponsibly sexualizing pre-teen girls, which, ironically, is what the movie itself is criticizing too. But the spotlight has only intensified since the film became available on Netflix last week and it has become the target of heightened politicized outrage from members of Congress, including U.S.
The backlash to the French independent film “Mignonnes,” or “Cuties,” started before it had even been released because of a poster that went viral for its provocative depiction of its young female actors. This image released by Netflix shows the cast of the coming-of-age film "Cuties," streaming Wednesday, Sept.