Public outcry has intensified after video-streaming service Netflix premiered the controversial film Cuties yesterday. The film is about an 11-year-old girl who breaks with her family to join a “twerking” crew in the hopes of finding stardom through a local dance contest.
Twerking is a form of sexually-suggestive dance.
Many believe the film sexualizes children.
The hashtag #CancelNetflix was the #1 trending topic on Twitter for a large part of the day today.
The outrage intensified after film rating & review site, IMDB, published its review of the film in which they described several of the scenes in the film as falling under the legal definition of pedophilia.
“Parental Warning : During one of the many highly sexualized & erotic dance scenes that purposefully exploit & objectify numerous scantily clad under age girls, one of the female child dancers lifts up her cropped top to fully display her bare breast. This is lawfully defined as pedophilia and can be extremely distressing to many viewers,” IMDB said.
that movie cuties dropped and wtf. this is straight from IMDB pic.twitter.com/y4RVyQ51ox
— ★ low-nah-gee ★ (@ebonixfem) September 10, 2020
That outrage was exacerbated even further when IMDB, half-way through the day, seemed to water-down its review.
even @IMDb is running cover for @netflix‘s “CUTIES” by watering down the parental warnings.
the parental guide BEFORE (left) vs. AFTER (right)
BEFORE link: https://t.co/un0wLrHmHX
AFTER link: https://t.co/oMBTlCu6gu pic.twitter.com/sfNzCxBPjy
— Siraj Hashmi (@SirajAHashmi) September 10, 2020
Many users on social media posted their disgust both with the film and with Netflix.
If you watch 11 year olds twerk, you’re a creep.
If you taught 11 year olds to touch themselves on camera, you’re abominable.
If you defend Netflix airing this child porn, you’re enabling abuse.#CancelNetflix
— Liz Wheeler (@Liz_Wheeler) September 10, 2020
Netflix just released the controversial ‘Cuties’ and it’s worse than you could imagine. Make no mistake: Netflix is at the forefront of sexualizing children and normalizing pedophilia! pic.twitter.com/emiMzk8w1z
— (@GhostJim4) September 9, 2020
In case you believe everyone is just naive and didn’t think this had anything to do with pedophilia: pic.twitter.com/z9IBpup2JV
— (@GhostJim4) September 9, 2020
Child porn winning an award at Sundance Festival is why Hollywood Executives/Studios need to raided by the FBI #CancelNetflix
— Tiff (@LATiffani1) September 10, 2020
if you ever get to the point where you start defending paedophilia to own your political opponents you are so far gone you need serious help #CancelNetflix pic.twitter.com/3tUS2OICfD
— Simon (@JustStaySober) September 10, 2020
Finally, something we can agree on#CancelNetflix pic.twitter.com/qJceW158o4
— Akashi / Tano (@Akashi_Tano) September 10, 2020
Netflix has in the past apologized for “artwork” that it has used to promote Cuties, but has been obdurate in its decision to premiere the move.
The network, along with critics, have defended the film as a “coming of age” story that is empowering for children.
Live look at the absolute joke that has become of the movie critic business…#CancelNetflix #BoycottNetflix pic.twitter.com/65WFjgt6yd
— Matthew White (@atMatthewWhite) September 10, 2020
The movie is rated “Mature,” meaning children are not allowed to watch it.