The Netflix-acquired French film Cuties has hit a nerve with plenty of subscribers, many of whom are calling for the film to be removed and for subscriptions to be cancelled.
After its September 9 release, more than 200,000 tweets with the hashtag '#CancelNetflix' became the top trending topic the next day. While the movie’s intention is to highlight the way children are sexualised in today’s world, the backlash has arisen over the fact that young girls were used to film highly sexualized dance routines and simulate other highly charged sexual situations. Viewers are asking who was there to protect these children, to prevent their sexualisation as minor stars in front of a full film crew.
The movie, which is rated “TV-MA” for language, is about Amy, an 11-year-old Senegalese girl living in Paris who joins the Cuties, a “free-spirited dance clique”, in rebellion against what she sees as her family’s oppression of her.
Directed by Maïmouna Doucouré, the production team’s justification for making the movie is falling on deaf ears and now there is a growing call online for Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, who have just joined the Netflix fold, to put their ‘money where their mouth is’ and speak out about Cuties.
The Duke and Duchess are said to have signed a deal worth $150 million with the network to produce documentaries and series as well as children’s programmes despite the fact that neither of them has ever produced a show.
Twitter users have now weighed in on the royals – Markle’s own words were thrown back in her face by one twitter user who said 'Meghan & Harry have yet to speak against Netflix’s streaming of Cuties. To quote them: “If you’re complacent, you’re complicit.”
'If dish-soap was enough to irk Meghan, then why hasn’t this?! Come on Meghan & Harry; it’s time to “unlock action and inspire hope” We’re waiting...'
Just last month the former actress told American voters in a video clip, 'If we aren't part of the solution, we are part of the problem. 'If you aren't going out there and voting you are complicit. If you are complacent, you are complicit.'
Twitter user AngelaLMotrabito said : 'The Obamas and Prince Harry & Meghan have contracts with Netflix. If they really want to use their influence for good, they’ll tell Netflix to drop “Cuties.”'
As of a day ago USA Republican Sen. Josh Hawley entered the fray and is also asking Netflix to take down the film.
.@Netflix should explain to the public why it is distributing a film, “Cuties,” that appears to sexually exploit children and endanger child welfare pic.twitter.com/OZH4HCLy0Y
— Josh Hawley (@HawleyMO) September 11, 2020
