A former Swindon magistrate says watching Cuties on Netflix ‘helps normalise child sex abuse’ as hundreds of thousands of people sign petitions to have the film removed.
Cuties launched on the platform on 9 September and created an immediate worldwide uproar. On petition on Change.org claims the film ‘exploits children and creates a disturbing vibe’, with more than 640,000 people adding their name to it.
“Eleven-year-old Amy starts to rebel against her conservative family’s traditions when she becomes fascinated with a free-spirited dance crew”, the film’s synopsis says.
But there are fears the show, which includes children dressed provocatively and twerking on camera, hyper-sexualises minors.
Former Swindon magistrate Dr Rosa Matheson said she believes “people would be arrested for sexual abuse of a child” if what is depicted in the film had been facilitated at a private party.
Adding that: “If a father, for example, had sat and encouraged a child to do this for him, they would need to be arrested for sexual abuse of a minor. Just because it is made by a big corporation for public viewing does not change that fact.
“The producer, and parents of these girls, should be arrested and prosecuted.
“Anyone who sits and watches it is helping to ‘normalise’ the sexual abuse of children.”
The film’s director Maïmouna Doucouré received the Directing Award for “Cuties” at the prestigious Sundance Film Festival prior to it airing on Netflix.
Malmesbury mum, Laura, who has a 16-year-old daughter, told Wiltshire 999s the film is “absolutely shocking”, and raised concerns over how it was allowed to be produced in the first place.
“I can’t quite get my head around how this has been allowed to be made and then aired on Netflix. It made my tummy go over when I watched a clip from the film and I was genuinely taken aback by it I can’t quite get my head around it all.
“Netflix has some serious questions that need to be answered like why did they ever think this film was acceptable to air and what made them think it was appropriate in any way.”
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