Netflix just hit its lowest point since the company launched its online platform for both movie and television shows with its latest acquired film “Cuties”.
Netflix houses thousands of films and shows available for streaming and has become the ultimate provider for easy and accessible content on the Internet. The company recently experienced its biggest controversy when it recently promoted the film “Cuties” that sexualizes children and normalizes pedophilia. The backlash from the film blew up over the past few days and it even started a trend to cancel Netflix.
The French film originally titled “Mignonnes” is a coming-of-age drama that tells the story of Amy, an 11-year-old Senegalese girl living in France, who joins a dance group formed by three other girls from her school to escape the restrictions of family life. The film received a director’s award at the Sundance film festival.
The controversy began last month when the promotional poster of the film was released, revealing children wearing skin-tight and ‘showy’ types of clothing. This prompted Netflix to change the promotional poster and release a public apology.
In a statement, the streaming platform explains: “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.”
After the film was released on the platform, it has accumulated a significant amount of outrage from netizens who are labeling the film as a form of ‘soft-core child pornography’ and is made easily accessible to pedophiles. These issues were heightened when right-wing Internet group known as “QAnon,” who are behind conspiracy theories involving child trafficking led by media celebrities and Democratic politicians, recently called for an investigation over the film’s violations of federal laws regarding minors.
Netflix has become one of the biggest online platforms today, and it is vital for them to monitor the content that is being put out to the public eye. This has become their biggest controversy to date, and a lot of people will be keeping a close watch on future releases.
POP! Creator Community / Jose Rafael Santamaria
