Lord have mercy!
Netflix released a trailer and poster for their upcoming film Cuties that many say sexualizes children.
The company announced the Sept. 9 release, describing the new film as “Amy, 11, becomes fascinated with a twerking dance crew. Hoping to join them, she starts to explore her femininity, defying her family’s traditions.”
The trailer displays young girls dancing, dressing, and acting in an over-sexualized manner. The original poster also depicts several children dressing immodestly and posing sexually.
Netflix has since changed the description to “a coming-of-age tale from Maïmouna Doucouré,” about “eleven-year-old Amy,” who “starts to rebel against her conservative family’s traditions when she becomes fascinated with a free-spirited dance crew.”
Actress Patrica Heaton called out Netflix for “sexualizing children” after “the ongoing problem with child pornography and sex trafficking.”
Here’s Heaton’s tweet below:
Heaton’s tweet reads, “After the #MeToo movement and the ongoing problem with child pornography and sex trafficking, @NetflixFilm produces a film that is a pedophile’s dream. Sexualizing children should not be part of mainstream culture.”
Pro-life advocate Lila Rose also addressed the company in a tweet.
Rose’s full tweet reads, “This is so gross and wrong. Why are you promoting the sexualization [of] little girls, @Netflix?”
Other social media users also expressed their disapproval.
Here’s what some users said:
Amy Rustand tweeted, “How do you not see this as obviously sexualizing children?? Reprehensible. Remove it now.”
Chad Miller also wrote, “After over a decade of being premium members, we’re finally canceling our Netflix membership. Good riddance.”
Aaron Faust added, “Looks awfully like sexualization of minors to me. What do I know, I’ve only investigated and arrested pedophiles for years.”
However, after the intense backlash, Netflix apologized, pulling the original poster and description.
Here’s Netflix’s tweet below:
Netflix’s full tweet reads, “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.”
Netflix did not announce plans to remove the film from their platform, however. Change.org has at least two active petitions calling for the movie’s removal.
One petition generated more than 100,000 signatures. Another petition generated almost 70,000 signatures.
Our Lady of Fatima, please pray us! Lord have mercy on us!
[See also: “Hateful and Blasphemous”: Priest’s Letter Canceling Netflix Due to “Salute to Abortion” Goes Viral]
[See also: Texas Bishop Rebukes Netflix’s Gay Depiction of Jesus: “Blasphemers Don’t Deserve a Penny”]