Streaming giant Netflix continues to receive backlash from the public for streaming the movie “Cuties.”
Daily Mail reports Netflix has seen its cancellations increase 800 percent since the controversial film’s release last month. The report states that two analytic companies suggest a large number of cancelations around the same time that calls were made to boycott Netflix over the French film.
The film’s trailer has over 15 million views on YouTube.
Netflix has defended its decision to stream the movie since it came out despite public criticism of the film.
The movie has become controversial for its perceived sexualization of young girls. The film depicts the story of a young Muslim girl who joins a dance crew despite her family’s conservative traditions. The movie became available on Netflix earlier this year.
The public outcry regarding the film has been steady and fierce. More than 600,000 people have signed an online petition calling for Netflix subscription cancelations. The petition description states the movies promotes child pornography.
Netflix Defends Movie
Despite the public outcry and #CancelNetflix Twitter trend, Netflix officials are standing by the decision to stream the movie. Officials suggest that critics watch the movie before condemning it.
Shortly after the film’s release, a Netflix spokesperson says that “Cuties” is actually a social commentary against sexualizing young females.
“It’s an award-winning film and a powerful story about the pressure young girls face on social media and society,” the spokesperson said. “We encourage anyone who cares about these important issues to watch the movie.”
Maïmouna Doucouré, the movie’s writer and director, has accrued harsh criticism over the film. She says threats against her life have come from people upset over the movie.
“I received numerous attacks on my character from people who had not seen the film, who thought I was actually making a film that was apologetic about hypersexualization of children,” she told Deadline last month.
