Netflix Has Been Indicted By A Texas Grand Jury For ‘Cuties’

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While I’m usually the type of person who would argue that artistic expression falls under the First Amendment and should be respected no matter how uncomfortable it makes you feel… that is ABSOLUTELY NOT the take I’m rolling with when it comes to Cuties, Netflix’s legitimately disgusting French film about 11-year-old girls who join a “twerking clique”.

Not only did Netflix choose to stream this film to their service, but they also created their own marketing materials that only exacerbated the scrutiny. Now, they’re paying the price, as the entertainment giant has recently been indicted by a Texas Grand Jury for “promotion of lewd visual material depicting a child”.

The indictment, which was handed down in Tyler County, alleges Netflix “knowingly” promoted visual material which “depicts the lewd exhibition of the genitals or pubic area of a clothed or partially clothed child who was younger than 18 years of age at the time the visual material was created, which appeals to the prurient interest in sex, and has no serious, literary, artistic, political, or scientific value.”

After watching the film, Tyler County District Attorney Lucas Babin said that he “knew there was probable cause to believe it was criminal.”

The film tells the coming-of-age story of an 11-year-old Senegalese girl as she discovers her maturing self, all while looking for acceptance in her religious family and group of young dancers she hopes to befriend.

“The legislators of this state believe promoting certain lewd material of children has destructive consequences,” Babin continued. “If such material is distributed on a grand scale, isn’t the need to prosecute more, not less?”

He added: “A grand jury found probable cause for this felony, and my job is to uphold the laws of this State and see that justice is done.” [via Fox News]

Netflix released a statement to Fox News following the indictment, saying that “Cuties is a social commentary against the sexualization of young children” and that “this charge is without merit and we stand by the film.” At this time, Netflix has not taken the film down.

Eric Italiano BroBIble avatar
Eric Italiano is a NYC-based writer who spearheads BroBible's Pop Culture and Entertainment content. He covers topics such as Movies, TV, and Video Games, while interviewing actors, directors, and writers.