Netflix is indicted on criminal charges for 'promoting lewd visual material depicting a child' over its decision to stream controversial French film 'Cuties'

 Netflix has been indicted by a grand jury in Texas after the streaming company refused to take down the controversial French film, "Cuties."

 

The streaming giant was indicted by a grand jury in Tyler County, Texas, according to state lawmaker Matt Schaefer.

 

The indictment states that Netflix has been charged with “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”.

 

The indictment also states that the movie did not hold any “literary, artistic, political or scientific value”.

 

Maïmouna Doucouré, the director of the movie has defended her film saying the movie is inspired by her own experiences and it explains the need to protect children.

 

'It's because I saw so many things and so many issues around me lived by young girls, that I decided to make this film and sound an alarm and say we need to protect our children,' Doucouré explained.

 

Cuties, is about an 11-year-old Senegalese immigrant named Amy, played by Fathia Youssouf, who joins a free-spirited dance group and starts exploring her feminity. 

 

Last month Senator Ted Cruz urged attorney general Bill Barr to investigate the movie, writing that it “sexualises young girls, through dance scenes simulating sexual activities, including one scene exposing a minor's chest.”

 

Back in August, Netflix issued an apology for the "inappropriate" marketing poster it released to promote the movie. 

 

The poster released by Netflix at that time shows the young girls of the film in suggestive dance poses. This led to a petition in Change.org to remove Cuties from the streaming platform, calling it, "disgusting as it sexualizes an eleven-year-old for the viewing pleasure of pedophiles and also negatively influences our children.”

 

The petition added that there is no "need for such content in that age group, particularly when sex trafficking and paedophilia are so rampant."