Tulsi Gabbard labels ‘Cuties' child porn that will whet appetite of pedophiles: 'Netflix, you are now complicit'
The French film ‘Mignonnes’ or ‘Cuties’ has been the center of controversy since the promo image of the movie was released. The movie, written and directed by Maïmouna Doucouré, follows an 11-year-old Senegalese immigrant, Amy (Fathia Youssouf), who upsets her mother by opting to join the Cuties, a crew of dancers who rehearse after school. It shows four pre-teen girls dancing in a suggestive manner.
After facing backlash on the promo image, Netflix had tweeted, “We're deeply sorry for the inappropriate artwork that we used for Mignonnes/Cuties. It was not OK, nor was it representative of this French film which won an award at Sundance. We’ve now updated the pictures and description.”
We're deeply sorry for the inappropriate artwork that we used for Mignonnes/Cuties. It was not OK, nor was it representative of this French film which won an award at Sundance. We’ve now updated the pictures and description.
— Netflix (@netflix) August 20, 2020
However, it was just the tip of the iceberg, as far as controversies go. #CancelNetflix began trending on Twitter on September 10, as users expressed their outrage at the streaming service for not removing the film from its platform. The outrage was triggered after IMDB's parental warning advisory list. The website points out certain scenes in the film under 'parental advisory,' one of them being: "A pair of tight leather pants on an 11-year-old girl is forcefully pulled down in the midst of a scuffle with another girl; the camera glances at her exposed underwear."
This caused social media to lash out again on the video streaming platform and allege them of promoting pedophilia. On September 10, Republican Texas lawmaker Matt Schaefer asked the state’s attorney general Ken Paxton to probe the Netflix movie for alleged possible violations of child exploitation and child pornography. Schafer wrote on Twitter, “I have asked Texas Attorney General Paxton’s office to investigate the Netflix film 'Cuties' for possible violations of child exploitation and child pornography laws. #CUTIES #txlege.”
I have asked Texas Attorney General Paxton’s office to investigate the @netflix film “Cuties” for possible violations of child exploitation and child pornography laws. #CUTIES #txlege
— Matt Schaefer (@RepMattSchaefer) September 10, 2020
Now, the Hawaii Army National Gaurd and the US Representative for Hawaii’s 2nd congressional district, Tusli Gabbard has joined the conversation. She wrote on Twitter, “.@netflix child porn "Cuties" will certainly whet the appetite of pedophiles & help fuel the child sex trafficking trade. 1 in 4 victims of trafficking are children. It happened to my friend's 13-year-old daughter. Netflix, you are now complicit. #CancelNetflix.”
.@netflix child porn "Cuties" will certainly whet the appetite of pedophiles & help fuel the child sex trafficking trade. 1 in 4 victims of trafficking are children. It happened to my friend's 13 year old daughter. Netflix, you are now complicit. #CancelNetflix pic.twitter.com/GI8KFH7LFq
— Tulsi Gabbard 🌺 (@TulsiGabbard) September 12, 2020
Soon others also spoke out about Gabbard's tweet. American blogger Michelle Malkin said, "Good for @TulsiGabbard. Hello @MichelleObama
@BarackObama @AmbassadorRice @SpeakerPelosi- what say you?". Conservative radio host and political commentator Tammy Bruce was one of the firsts to point a finger at the Obamas as well as Susan E Rice, a former US National Security Advisor and Ambassador to the UN, who joined the Netflix's board of directors in 2018. "A word from any of these people could stop this in its tracks. Susan Rice and Obama are on the Netflix board, Harry and Meghan are reported to have a $100m deal with Netflix,'' she said. Contrary to Bruce's statement, the Obamas are not members of Netflix. They have simply signed a deal with the company to produce television shows and movies.
Good for @TulsiGabbard.
— Michelle Malkin (@michellemalkin) September 12, 2020
Hello @MichelleObama @BarackObama @AmbassadorRice @SpeakerPelosi - what say you? https://t.co/iUpmsQtpW9
Watch: Fox’s @HeyTammyBruce on Netflix's controversial ‘Cuties’: "A word from any of these people could stop this in its tracks.. Susan Rice and Obama are on the Netflix board, Harry and Meghan are reported to have a $100m deal with Netflix.” pic.twitter.com/b6NN35ru8P
— TV News HQ (@TVNewsHQ) September 11, 2020
One user said, "Gotta give respect where it’s due Thank you @TulsiGabbard." Journalist Cassandra Fairbanks concurred, "Tulsi is calling out cuties for being child porn and is calling for Assange to be freed. Dems really let a good one get away during the primaries." One stated, "Your daily reminder that Tulsi Gabbard is a underrated congresswoman who supports universal healthcare, the freeing of Julian Assange and is completely anti-war."
Gotta give respect where it’s due
— Rogan O’Handley 🇺🇸 (@DC_Draino) September 12, 2020
Thank you @TulsiGabbard https://t.co/LB2YkLFH6F
Tulsi is calling out cuties for being child porn and is calling for Assange to be freed. Dems really let a good one get away during the primaries.
— Cassandra Fairbanks (@CassandraRules) September 12, 2020
Your daily reminder that Tulsi Gabbard is a underrated congresswoman who supports universal healthcare, the freeing of Julian Assange and is completely anti war.
— New York Socialist (@berniebromanny) September 12, 2020
"The Democrats don't deserve @TulsiGabbard. She's too honest and too authentic for them. TDS is real and it's Tulsi Derangement Syndrome. These partisan establishment hacks would rather defend the creepy exploitation of children than support Tulsi when she says #CancelNexflix," said one user. Another user complimented, "Tulsi, you are admirable, charismatic, strong, and brilliant. You are no Democrat." One eve said, "You are and will be my only pick for Democrat nominee, smart, astute, balanced, the stupid DNC made a big mistake." One user also dragged the Obamas and said, "Disgraceful! Thank you Tulsi for speaking up. Aren't the OBAMAS part OF NETFLIX board? Why haven't they said anything? I'd This a part of the sick agenda?"
The Democrats don't deserve @TulsiGabbard. She's too honest and too authentic for them.
— emily (@emnode) September 12, 2020
TDS is real and it's Tulsi Derangement Syndrome.
These partisan establishment hacks would rather defend the creepy exploitation of children than support Tulsi when she says #CancelNexflix. pic.twitter.com/jzu2naLkNQ
Tulsi, you are admirable, charismatic, strong, and brilliant.
— Tom Jefferson (@TomJeff4Liberty) September 12, 2020
You are no Democrat.
You are and will be my only pick for Democrat nominee, smart, astute, balanced, the stupid DNC made a big mistake.
— PrincessTT (@Princes63000366) September 12, 2020
Disgraceful! Thank you Tulsi for speaking up. Aren't the OBAMAS part OF NETFLIX board? Why haven't they said anything? I'd This a part of the sick agenda?
— MANOLA (@Patrici93308752) September 12, 2020