MEAWW.COM / ENTERTAINMENT / TV

'Tiny Pretty Things' too uncomfortable with nudity and explicit sex scenes? Fans call Netflix show 'softcore porn'

After its premiere on Netflix, many slammed the series on its lack of decency and its very many nude scenes

Spoilers for 'Tiny Pretty Things' 

Netflix released its elite ballet drama 'Tiny Pretty Things' on December 14, 2020, and while some of the actors were impeccable in the delivery of their characters, the series is now being slammed for its abundance of explicit sex scenes throughout its 10-episode run. The characters in the series are supposed to be teenagers, and while the story of Neveah Stroyer (Kylie Jefferson) navigating the demons of the Archer School of Ballet proved to be a strong script, it was mostly overshadowed by unnecessary and intense sex scenes.

The teenage drama is based on the young adult novel of the same name and its sequel 'Shiny Broken Pieces' authored by Sona Charaipotra and Dhonielle Clayton. When the star of the academy Cassie Shore is pushed off the roof, Neveah finds herself in the center of the investigation as she and her friends uncover the corruption and the abuse the academy is part of. People feel as though the series has taken many liberties to make itself different from the novels. After its premiere on Monday, December 14, many took to Twitter to call out the series on its lack of decency and its very many nude scenes among the teen characters.

"Tiny pretty things could have been good but it’s just soft core porn with bad writing :/ like if they’re going to write a show like this why not make them college age?," wrote one user. Another added, "Maybe it’s me, but there is no need for Tiny Pretty Things to literally be soft core porn. There is no need for these actors/actresses to be naked all the time or for all the explicit sex sevens, especially while portraying teenagers."

Many watching were especially disturbed since the characters were teenagers, with another user tweeting, "Watching Tiny Pretty Things on Netflix as a study break and some of the scenes make me uncomfortable as a twenty-something year old. Why are there explicit sex scenes of the main characters? Aren’t they supposed to be teenagers? Am I the only one that thinks this?" The series has many sex scenes featuring Bette Whitlaw, Oren Lennox, Shane and his boyfriend Dev along with adult sex scenes involving Madame Dubois, Delia Whitlaw and Ramon Costa. Another user added, "Tiny Pretty Things is a bunch of adults playing teenagers having sex. This is really f**king gross bro."

Some viewers found the plotline of sexual assault grave and disturbing. The character June Park is sexually assaulted, as well as Paige along with ballet master Ramon Costa sleeping with his students such as Cassie. "TW sexual assault So I've been enjoying Tiny Pretty Things overall, but the constant nudity and explicit sex scenes featuring underage characters has made me super uncomfortable, as has teacher/student sex. The ep I just watched had on-screen sexual assault and it's left me ill," wrote one viewer. 

The series does touch upon many topics such as eating disorders, Islamophobia, sexual assault, drug use and abuse among many others. As many have pointed out the series does need to have a trigger warning. "Tiny pretty things is missing so many trigger warnings it’s ridiculous don’t watch if if “common” triggers trigger you bc," wrote one user. Another added, "cw // potential sexual assault, nudity F*ck Netflix for not putting a trigger warning on tiny pretty things. Like Neveah though she was going to get sexually assaulted, that shit triggered me."

'Tiny Pretty Things' is now available to stream on Netflix.