Netflix has recently been the target of criticism for a controversial film called Cuties, and is now facing criminal charges.
A large review committee in Tyler County, Texas accuses the company. According to the charges, Netflix knowingly promoted content from the film Cuties, such as «visual material that depicts the indecent exposure of the genitals or the pubic area of a child or partially clothed child who was under 18 years old at the time the visual material was created, which promotes sexual interest, and has no serious literary, artistic, political or scientific value,» according to the indictment.
The complaint is a felony. Netflix has already been subpoenaed, although no date has been set for the subpoena. The CEOs , Reed Hastings and Ted Sarandos, were also named in the indictment.
“The film is a social commentary against the sexualization of young children. This accusation has no merit and we stand by the film,” the company told Reuters. The French film Cuties is about an 11-year-old Muslim girl who, according to Netflix, “begins to rebel against the traditions of her conservative family when she becomes fascinated with a free-spirited dance group.”
Even before the screening of Cuties on September 9, Netflix received many reactions due to the film's promotional poster, which is said to have sexualized young girls. The company apologized for the «inappropriate» images and said it was not representative of the film.
Cuties won an award at the Film Festival Sundance, where it premiered in January. The film’s director, Maïmouna Doucouré, told Deadline last month that she has received attacks on her character from “people who hadn’t seen the film, who thought she was actually making a film that was apologetic about the sexuality of children.” She also claims to have received death threats.
Turkey, meanwhile, ordered Netflix to block access to Cuties in the country, according to Engadget reports.
