You remember the controversy over the Netflix film, Cuties? The outcry had calmed down; however, the show is back in the forefront once again as Netflix has been indicted by a Texas Grand Jury, alleging that the streaming service promotes “lewd visual material” of a child.
Texas Representative Matt Schaefer announced on Twitter that a Tyler County grand jury has formally indicted the company over Cuties and its alleged exploitation of the movie’s young stars.
Netflix, Inc. indicted by grand jury in Tyler Co., Tx for promoting material in Cuties film which depicts lewd exhibition of pubic area of a clothed or partially clothed child who was younger than 18 yrs of age which appeals to the prurient interest in sex #Cuties #txlege pic.twitter.com/UJ1hY8XJ2l
— Matt Schaefer (@RepMattSchaefer) October 6, 2020
“Netflix, Inc. indicted by grand jury in Tyler Co., Tx for promoting material in Cuties film which depicts lewd exhibition of pubic area of a clothed or partially clothed child who was younger than 18 yrs of age which appeals to the prurient interest in sex,” Schaefer wrote in his post.
In a statement provided to Yahoo Entertainment, a Netflix spokesperson responded to news of the indictment, writing: “Cuties is a social commentary against the sexualization of young children. This charge is without merit and we stand by the film.”
Netflix continues to support not only the film but its director Maïmouna Doucouré, who says that she shares the same fight as those who accuse her film of sexualizing young actresses on screen. Doucouré says that she based the story on her own life as a child growing up in France as a Senegalese immigrant.
