Netflix issues apology for misrepresenting French film 'Cuties'

Netflix issued an apology on Thursday, August 20, 2020, after users signed a petition to remove the controversial French film 'Cuties' from their platform. The movie is about a 11-year-old girl who leaves her family to join a 'free-spirited dance group'.

'Cuties' is accused in the online campaign of sexualizing young girls 'for the viewing pleasure of pedophiles'. It was originally titled 'Mignonnes' and the director of the movie won a best director award at the Sundance Film Festival, which is where 'Cuties' premiered.

Social media had called out Netflix for the poster of the film. It featured four preteen stars posing in costumes baring their legs and midriffs. The users called it 'disgusting', 'sick' and 'upsetting'. Netflix soon apologized for the mistake and corrected it. They however, are releasing the film on September 9, 2020.

Netflix tweeted, "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."

Here's their tweet:

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 (@netflix) August 20, 2020

'Cuties' is described as a film about a 11-year-old rebel gril who joins a free-spirited dance group and starts exploring her feminity.