Backlash over 'Cuties' controversy sparks #CancelNetflix campaign
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The film is directed by French-Senegalese director Maimouna Doucoure, and started streaming September 9. More than 200,000 tweets with the hashtag "#CancelNetflix" became the top trending topic one day later.
Thousands of people launched a call to boycott Netflix on Thursday over the French film "Mignonnes", known as "Cuties" in English angry that its young stars were portrayed in a sexualised way.
The film is directed by French-Senegalese director Maimouna Doucoure and premiered at Sundance Film Festival in the US and at the Berlin festival, winning awards at both.
It started streaming September 9. More than 200,000 tweets with the hashtag "#CancelNetflix" became the top trending topic one day later.
Over 600,000 ppl have signed a Change petition pledging to cancel their #Netflix subscriptions.
— Omar Navarro (@RealOmarNavarro) September 11, 2020
If each signee had an account & canceled, at $12.99 a month, this would be $7.8 million MONTHLY that @Netflix has lost.
That’s $93 million a year.
Keep canceling! #CancelNetflix
The poster promoting the film in France shows four brightly dressed girls throwing confetti as they walk up a street.
However, in the United States and internationally Netflix chose an image showing the four young stars posing in tight costumes baring their legs and midriffs.
The 11 year old girls who were sexually exploited filming Cuties shot those scenes in front of a director, a DP, a gaffer, their parents, a choreographer, a MUA, a hair person, a camera assistant, a wardrobe person, extras and more. Not one adult protected them. #CancelNetflix
— Robby Starbuck (@robbystarbuck) September 11, 2020
A first wave of criticism, in August, led Netflix to withdraw "inappropriate" artwork used to promote the film, which was released in theaters that month in France.
"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," Netflix said.
Also read: Netflix apologises for using 'inappropriate artwork' as cover poster of French film 'Cuties'
However, broader opposition to some of the imagery came from across the political spectrum in the United States.
DeAnna Lorraine, a former Republican candidate for Congress from California, tweeted that "Child pornography is illegal in America."
"As the mother of an 8-year old girl, I STRONGLY support #CancelNetflix," added Beatrice Cardenas, another California Republican.
The film, which received a director's award at the prestigious Sundance Film Festival, tells the story of Amy, an 11-year-old Parisian, who must juggle the strict rules of her Senegalese family and social media's emphasis on appearance.
She joins a dance group formed by three other girls from her neighborhood, whose choreographies are sometimes suggestive.
"The hypersexualization of girls (and boys) is disgusting," tweeted Omar Navarro, another Republican politician. "It is morally and ethically reprehensible. Pedophiles, child rapists and perverts would have a great time with #Cuties."
Among the voices praising the movie were American actress Tessa Thompson ("Creed", "Avengers: Endgame"), who found it "beautiful."
"It gutted me at @sundancefest," she went on.
"It introduces a fresh voice at the helm. She's a French Senegalese Black woman mining her experiences.
"The film comments on the hyper-sexualization of preadolescent girls. Disappointed to see the current discourse. Disappointed to see how it was positioned in terms of marketing.
"I understand the response of everybody. But it doesn't speak to the film I saw."
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."