Cuties Controversy

By Sophie Wells

The French coming-of-age film, Mignonnes (also known as Cuties), tells the story of an 11-year-old girl who joins a dance group at her school. As it is set to be released onto Netflix on September 9, 2020, a petition to stop its release has now acquired over 80,000 signatures.

Many believe that Netflix’s description of Cuties was wildly inappropriate and an inaccurate representation of the film itself. This initial description read: "Amy, 11, becomes fascinated with a twerking dance crew. Hoping to join them, she starts to explore her femininity, defying her family's traditions."

Along with this description was an even more inappropriate photo of the cast of young girls posing in extremely mature and sexual manners.

On August 20th Netflix broke their silence by owning up to the inappropriate promotion of the film and announced their change of both the film’s cover picture and description, which now reads: "11-year-old Amy starts to rebel against her conservative family's traditions when she becomes fascinated with a free-spirited dance crew."

Cuties, directed by Maïmouna Doucouré, won the Grand Jury Prize and Directing Award at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival. However, the film itself is also receiving backlash for having an islamophobic plot and sexualizing children which, in turn, supports pedophilia.

Whether the film’s release on Netflix will be postponed or canceled is still unknown.

Sophie Wells is an editorial intern who is knowledgeable in all things fashion, cooking and entertainment.