Netflix accused of sexualizing children!

Netflix is facing backlash, with #CancelNetflix trending on social media, for the streaming platform’s controversial French film Cuties.

The hashtag “#CancelNetflix” was the No. 1 trending topic on Twitter in the U.S. Thursday, after “Cuties” premiered Sept. 9 on Netflix.

While Change.org is calling on Netflix customers to cancel their subscriptions over “Cuties” and other content on the streaming service “that exploits children and creates a disturbing vibe,” currently has nearly 600,000 signers.

The huge boycott caused Netflix to loss more than $ 9 billion in its market value.

Netflix users and critics have been protesting the ‘oversexualisation’ of children in the film.

Cuties is a teen coming-of-age drama about Amy, an 11-year-old girl, who decides to join a dance group, upsetting her mother who holds on to traditional values. The film was premiered in the world cinema dramatic competition sector in the 2020 Sundance film festival.

In August, Netflix had faced a backlash over a promotional poster of Cuties, which depicted the kids in provocative poses. We’re deeply sorry for the inappropriate artwork that we used for ‘Mignonnes’/’Cuties,’” a Netflix rep said in a statement to Variety. “It was not OK, nor was it representative of this French film which premiered at Sundance. We’ve now updated the pictures and description.”

We're deeply sorry for the inappropriate artwork that we used for Mignonnes/Cuties. It was not OK, nor was it representative of this French film which won an award at Sundance. We’ve now updated the pictures and description.

— Netflix (@netflix) August 20, 2020

The attorney Senator Ted Cruz demanded the Department of Justice to criminalize such shows.

Meanwhile, Mary Margaret Olohan, a reporter for conservative publication the Daily Caller, early Thursday tweeted a video clip of the girls in the film dancing suggestively and twerking, commenting, “Netflix is comfortable with this. Plenty of people will defend it. This is where our culture is at.” She added, “I understand this video is upsetting and depicts little girls in a gruesome light. I tweeted it for those who will say that ‘Cuties’ is innocent.”

Netflix is comfortable with this. Plenty of people will defend it. This is where our culture is at. pic.twitter.com/UlqEmXALmd

— Mary Margaret Olohan (@MaryMargOlohan) September 10, 2020

Aims do not Justify Means

In a statement to several media outlets, Netflix echoed, Maïmouna Doucouré’s remarks, the French Senegalese filmmaker, writing that the film is “a social commentary against the sexualization of young children.”

In a statement to Fox News, a Netflix spokesperson said: “Cuties is a social commentary against the sexualization of young children. 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.”

Yet last month, when Netflix released promotional material for “Cuties,” it looked nothing like the French poster that had been previously used to advertise the film. Instead, the company used a still from a scene in which the “Cuties” perform in spandex short shorts and sparkly crop tops.

However, #CancelNetflix is still trending on social media, Here are some tweets:

When a movie about 11 year old girls is too inappropriate for 11 year olds, you know it’s bad. #CancelNetflx #SAVETHECHILDREN pic.twitter.com/5weA7qIEY5

— JackTrone1 (@JackTrone1) September 13, 2020

it goes down …. pull harder boys #CancelNetflx pic.twitter.com/1iOVN213AU

— theHuman (@humans2brother) September 13, 2020

Stop this madness. And in the process she also sexualized over 300 children who auditioned for this, as well as the young girls cast. You don’t fight pedophilia with more pedophilia. #cuties #CancelNetflx https://t.co/uV9FoHrxI3

— Joy Villa (@Joy_Villa) September 13, 2020