Netflix has received immense backlash from outraged audiences who have accused the streaming platform of ‘sexualising’ young girls in an upcoming film titled Cuties.
According to details, the film, which premiered at this year’s Sundance Film Festival, is about Amy a Senegalese Muslim girl who lives in a poor neighbourhood in France. After she develops a fascination with dance, she joins a dance group called the ‘Cuties’.
Meanwhile, the film’s official synopsis states: “Eleven-year-old Amy starts to rebel against her conservative family’s traditions when she becomes fascinated with a free-spirited dance crew.”
The film is originally a French-language film titled Mignonnes. It was written and directed by Maïmouna Doucouré, who is also Senegalese. The director, in an interview, had shared that the inspiration for the film came from seeing an amateur talent show in Paris.
“There were these girls on stage dressed in a really sexy fashion in short, transparent clothes. They danced in a very sexually suggestive manner,” said Doucouré. “There also happened to be a number of African mothers in the audience. I was transfixed, watching with a mixture of shock and admiration. I asked myself if these young girls understood what they were doing.”
However, parents and audiences say that the film exploits and sexualises children and have signed a petition asking Netflix to remove the film from the streaming platform. The petition reportedly has more than 250,000 signatures till now.
“The movie Cuties shows children dressed provocatively, dancing sexually and is rated only for adult viewers,” reads the petition. “It was created for the entertainment of adults who are paedophiles. Please sign the petition to protect our children from exploitation in movies.”
Following the backlash, Netflix apologised for the “inappropriate” artwork used for the film. However, it did not clarify whether the film will be cancelled or not.
The film’s original poster showed the film’s cast – all children – in midriff-baring uniforms and short shorts striking various dance poses.
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Cuties is scheduled to premiere on Netflix on September 9.
