More than 282,000 people have signed a petition on Change.org asking the streaming service Netflix to remove ‘Cuties’ as they claim it sexualizes children and is promoting Islamophobia.
The film has already premiered at this year’s Sundance Film Festival. It will premier on Netflix next September 9.
The main character is a Senegalese Muslim girl who lives in a poor neighborhood in France. Her name is Amy in the film. The film is originally a French-language film titled Mignonnes. Maïmouna Doucouré, who is also Senegalese, has written and directed it.
This is HORRIBLE on every level!
☑ Encorages paedophilia
☑ Exploits children's bodies
☑ Reinforces cultural stereotypes
☑ Promotes Islamophobia #Cuties #Netflix https://t.co/GHGH0t22Kv— ??????? لعلین✨???????? ????? (@laaleen) August 20, 2020
According to the petitioners, “The movie ‘Cuties’ shows children dressed provocatively, dancing sexually and is rated only for adult viewers,” reads their post on Change.org.
“It was created for the entertainment of adults who are pedophiles. Please sign the petition to protect our children from exploitation in movies.”
Twitter reacts to Netflix ‘Cuties’
Meanwhile, some Twitter users were also angry. Many hated the poster of the film, which shows the young cast posing in cropped dance costumes. Others say the Netflix film Cuties is an attack on Muslims and promotes Islamophobia.
In the trailer for Netflix #Cuties, the Muslim mother beats up the little girl, who "finds herself" by doing erotic dance.
The film is pedophile grooming and also an attack on Muslims and traditional morality.
Muslim mom in the film is literally cast as a child abuser! pic.twitter.com/urCHGIrKix
— Cernovich (@Cernovich) August 21, 2020
nauseating show about an 11 year old who thinks twerking , dressed in Provocative clothes is freedom ? The fact that girl belongs to a conservative Muslim Senegalese family is just icing on the cake @netflix #Cuties is sexualising children https://t.co/nuToGYTYY4
— Sadaf Haider صدف حیدر (@tomtomatoe) August 19, 2020
Ok I just saw the trailer for cuties and it's so gross like I genuinely wanna know who at Netflix decided to make a movie that furthers the misconception that Islam is oppressive and sexualize minors all at once
— Suman (@Knewbettersum) August 20, 2020
Netflix has a movie called “Cuties” about 11 year olds in a twerking dance group. Some of the reviews claim it’s a “commentary” on the sexualization of children but this is the poster. And keep in mind that the lead actress is actually 11 years old. In the film and real life. pic.twitter.com/4p2exeSvXw
— Matt Walsh (@MattWalshBlog) August 20, 2020
Meanwhile, following a heavy public backlash Netflix has issued a statement now apologizing for ‘the inappropriate artwork’ used for the film.
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
Netflix has also changed the film’s synopsis, which first read, “Amy, 11, becomes fascinated with a twerking dance crew. Hoping to join them, she starts to explore her femininity, defying her family’s traditions.”
It has now been changed to, “11-year-old Amy starts to rebel against her conservative family’s traditions when she becomes fascinated with a free-spirited dance crew.” Let’s see if the film is still going to be released on the famous streaming service Netflix next month.
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