Social media users are calling for a boycott of streaming giant Netflix following the premiere of French film Migonnes – Cuties in English – over claims it portrays its young stars in a sexualised manner.
The film is directed by French-Senegalese director Maïmouna Doucouré and tells a story an 11-year-old Senegalese girl in Paris who joins a “free-spirited dance clique” to escape the restrictions from her family.
Cuties initially faced backlash in August which led to Netflix changing the artwork being used to promote the film. However, a fresh wave of criticism occurred last night (September 10) on Twitter following the premiere of the movie on September 9, sparking the #CancelNetflix campaign.
A Change.org petition urging Netflix users to cancel their subscriptions in response to the film has currently received over 600,000 signatures, with social media commentators calling the film “disgusting” and comparing it to “child pornography”.
In a statement, Netflix said: “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.”