Netflix CEO Defends Child Pornography Film ‘Cuties’ As A ‘Coming-Of-Age’ Story
October 14, 2020 By Evita Duffy
Appearing at Monday’s virtual Mipcom marketing event, Netflix Chief Executive Ted Sarandos defended the child pornography film “Cuties” his company recently released, to massive backlash.
The film has been charged with exploiting 11-year old girls, who are featured in highly sexual and suggestive scenes that include twerking, inappropriate clothing, and even nudity. State and federal officials have labeled the hyper-sexualization of young girls in the film criminal.
“It’s a little surprising in 2020 America that we’re having a discussion about censoring storytelling,” Sarandos told Deadline. Sarandos claimed the film is simply “misunderstood” and if you just watch it, the movie “speaks for itself.” It is just a “coming-of-age” story, he added.
The initial outrage over French-Senegalese Maïmouna Doucouré’s film was ignited after Netflix released a promotional poster in mid-August that depicted the four main-character young actresses in suggestive poses and exposed midriffs. Netflix apologized for the film’s artwork, calling it “inappropriate,” but did not stop the film from being released on their platform in September.