Cuties on Netflix twerking poster drama explained

CUTIES is a French film on Netflix that sees an 11 year old girl join a dance group to gain popularity on social media, much to the disdain of her conservative religious family. It has been the subject of fierce debate on Twitter, prompting at one point the hashtag #CancelNetflix. Why has there been controversy […]

CUTIES is a French film on Netflix that sees an 11 year old girl join a dance group to gain popularity on social media, much to the disdain of her conservative religious family.

It has been the subject of fierce debate on Twitter, prompting at one point the hashtag #CancelNetflix.

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AP:Associated Press

Cuties has faced backlash, with some saying it promotes pedophilia [/caption]

Why has there been controversy over Netflix’s release of Cuties?

Controversy began when the poster for the film on Netflix was released – it showed the young female characters wearing shorts and crop tops.

In the original French poster, the image was completely different as it showed the girls running with bags of shopping.

On Twitter, backlash started with many claiming the film promoted pedophilia and that children were being sexualised.

#CancelNetflix was trending at the time and many threatened to do so while petitions to cancel the film appeared online.

Actress Tessa Thompson, who saw the film when it first premiered at Sundance Festival, Tweeted: “Disappointed to see how it was positioned in terms of marketing. I understand the response of everybody. But it doesn’t speak to the film I saw.”

Netflix

The original French poster of Cuties used an image similar to this[/caption]

Netflix heard the backlash loud and clear, soon redoing their poster and film description.

They Tweeted: “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. We’ve now updated the pictures and description.”

The film’s director, Maïmouna Doucouré hadn’t seen the poster before it went live.

She told Deadline: “I received numerous attacks on my character from people who had not seen the film, who thought I was actually making a film that was apologetic about hyper-sexualization of children. I also received numerous death threats.”

She said the film is a critique of how society sexualises young girls, rather than advocating it.

Netflix defended the film too, telling Variety: ““Cuties’ is a social commentary against the sexualization of young children.

“It’s an award-winning film and a powerful story about the pressure young girls face on social media and from society more generally growing up — and we’d encourage anyone who cares about these important issues to watch the movie.”

Timeline of events

• January 23: The film premiered at Sundance Film Festival and Doucouré won the award for directing
• August: The controversial poster goes live on Netflix; Doucouré is seen to have made her Instagram private due to backlash and death threats
• August 20: Netflix apologise for the poster and change it along with the description
• September 9: Cuties released on Netflix; “#CancelNetflix” is a top trending hashtag
• September 14: Doucouré says she is fighting “the same fight” as the people attacking her and stresses the film does not promote child sexualisation