Time To Give Netflix The Flick!

For a company with an annual turnover of $20.1 billion and millions of subscribers across the globe, Netflix sure makes a lot of mistakes.

The film streaming giant has been the recent subject of much deserved criticism for its disgraceful marketing of – and intentions to screen from early next month – the full length film “Cuties” (or “Mignonnes”, to give it the original French title).

The plot of “Cuties” has been described as the story of Amy, an 11-year-old Senegalese Muslim girl who is caught and torn between two contrasting fortunes, traditional values and internet culture while also speaking about the hypersexualization of pre-adolescent girls (Wikipedia).

But there is more to it than that.

Netflix’s blunder – and it was a huge one – was the disgraceful poster they initially released to market the film.

The original French promotional poster for “Mignonnes” shows a small group of young (11-year-old) girls, respectably dressed and smiling at the cameras.

But this wasn’t enough for Netflix, who replaced the original placard with another poster of the girls, but this time wearing flesh-baring outfits, and in suggestive “twerking” poses.

Remember, these girls are ELEVEN.

PUBLIC BACKLASH

There has been an immediate backlash from the public over the actions of Netflix, who have apologised and changed the poster.

But surely this is a case of “too little, too late”, given that the offensive poster can STILL be seen online if you look hard enough.

Netflix admitted to BBC News: “This (first) poster was not an accurate representation of the film so the image and description have been updated.”

They later tweeted: “We’re deeply sorry for the inappropriate artwork that Netflix used for Mignonnes/Cuties. It was not OK, nor was it representative of this film….we’ve now updated the pictures and description.”

Netflix’s original synopsis of the film 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.”

This has since been changed to read: “11-year-old Amy starts to rebel against her conservative family’s traditions when she becomes fascinated with a free-spirited dance crew.

This is what is commonly known as a “snow job”!

Because if Netflix was truly remorseful, surely they would be withdrawing the streaming of the film, which is due to be released online on September 9…..no doubt much to the delight of paedophiles and other deviates across the globe.

INSULT TO MUSLIMS

The poster, and indeed the entire movie is yet another insult to Muslims worldwide with the pre-pubescent, main character discarding her hijab and hip hop dancing in scanty costumes.

And while film-maker Maïmouna Doucouré says that she penned the script for her debut feature film taking her own life experience as a refugee girl into account, this explanation is of little comfort to not only Muslims, but ALL people who believe in modesty and decency and abhor the sexualisation of children online and by the media.

Indeed, if the film’s intention is to create awareness of the sexual exploitation of young girls, my question is: why do so in a manner which offends good morals and the most beautiful of religions?

Full marks to Texan politician Irene Armendariz-Jackson, who recently tweeted: “It sickens me that Netflix is using its global platform to circumvent child pornography laws by airing “Cuties”, a movie about an 11-year-old twerking her way to stardom….(pre)pubescent girls dancing sensually can only lead to paedophilia and Netflix needs to be strongly censured.”

But NO marks to those (including prominent American actor Tessa Jackson), who has defended the film….after all, criticising Netflix would be biting the hand that feeds them.

PETITION CIRCULATING

A change.org petition is currently circulating online, campaigning to have Netflix remove “Cuties” from its streaming platform.

The petition reads in part: “This movie/show is disgusting as it sexualizes an ELEVEN year old for the viewing pleasure of paedophiles and also negatively influences our children! There is no need for this kind of content in that age group, especially when sex trafficking and paedophilia are so rampant! There is no excuse, this is dangerous content!”

Prominent Muslim community leader and my very dear brother, the Adelaide based Ahmed Bassal, had this to say:

“Netflix has really gone too far this time.

“In their latest disgrace, Netflix will be streaming “Cuties”, the story of a French Muslim girl who removes her hijab, puts on makeup, and learns to dance and…. TWERK!

“THE GIRL IS 11 YEARS OLD, FOR GOD’S SAKE!

“The taste is so poor that hundreds of thousands of NON-MUSLIMS have signed a petition to remove it as it promotes child pornography and the over-sexualisation of children.

“The taste is so poor that hundreds of thousands of NON-MUSLIMS have signed a petition to remove it as it promotes child pornography and the over-sexualisation of children.

“WE ARE AGAINST CHILD PORNOGRAPHY and WE ARE AGAINST ISLAMOPHOBIA.”

Please take time to click the link at the bottom of this page and sign the petition as who knows, Netflix may actually do the right thing Inshallah….we can only hope.

But even if Netflix ignores our protests, we can still ‘vote with our feet’ so as to speak.

Netflix reported a profit of $1.2 billion last year….but if 150,000 people withdrew their subscriptions, it would sure make a big dent in that margin.

I know what I will be doing!!

Sign petition Here