Netflix Indicted On Felony Charges Over The Film “Cuties”

Netflix has been receiving backlash since the release of Cuties — now that backlash has instigated felony charges against the company. 

Cuties premiered in the World Dramatic Competition section of the 2020 Sundance Film Festival on January 23. It was later released internationally on September 9, 2020 on Netflix.

The film follows a middle school black Muslim girl’s coming of age story. The young girl is lashing out sexually because of her father’s second wife. Her frustration leads her to join a dance crew, “Cuties,” who are the best influences. In the end she decides to be a regular girl and not some modestly Muslim, but not hyper-sexualized either.

The indictment received by US Today states that Netflix promoted, distributed and exhibited material that “depicts the lewd exhibition of the genitals or pubic area of a clothed or partially clothed child who was younger than 18 years of age” for the “prurient interest in sex.” The document also states that the film held no serious “literary, artistic, political, or scientific value.

One of the scenes in question is a fight between the main character and arrival dance crew. In this scene the main character’s underwear is exposed.

Analytics companies that track Netflix subscribers reported that in September the streaming service saw a large number of cancellations due to the coming of age story.

Netflix says critics are missing the point of the film.

“‘Cuties’ is a social commentary against the sexualization of young children,” Netflix said in a statement to USA TODAY. “This charge is without merit and we stand by the film.”

Lucas Babin, Tyler County District Attorney, said the summons was served to Netflix on October 1 by Texas Rangers. Records say that Netflix is being charged with a state jail felony.