Netflix finds itself amidst controversy following its decision to exhibit the critically-lauded movie, Cuties – and it might now be heading to court.
Streaming giant Netflix has been indicted by a Texas grand jury for ‘disseminating lewd material.’
The charge concerns the company’s distribution of the French film
Cuties. according to
Variety. The indictment was apparently levied late last month (when controversy was high over how the streaming giant had promoted the film), and concerns ‘the lewd exhibition of the genitals or pubic area of a child.’ Crucially, the law also stated that for the law to be breached, the content must possess ‘no serious artistic, literary, political or scientific value.’
Naturally, Netflix has refuted this claim and released the following statement: “
Cuties is a social commentary against the sexualization of young children. This charge is without merit and we stand by the film.”
In a slightly bizarre twist, the Tyler County district attorney bringing the charges is no stranger to the movies himself, having appeared as Spider in 2003’s
School of Rock.
Whilst the film won Best Director for Maïmouna Doucouré at the Sundance Film Festival and earned hugely positive reviews there, it has also face a backlash online, where the hashtag #CancelNetflix was at one point trending on Twitter.
Whether most of those complaining online had actually seen the film is unclear. More news on this one as we have it.
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