'Cuties' Controversy: Netflix Lands Itself In Legal Trouble, Gets Indicted In Texas

Netflix has been indicted in Texas for “promoting lewd material” on its platform by releasing the controversial movie “Cuties.”

The streaming giant has been indicted by a grand jury in Tyler County, Texas in connection to the release of the French movie on its platform, The Hollywood Reporter first reported. Netflix is accused of “visual material which depicts the lewd exhibition of genitals or pubic area of a clothed or partially clothed child who was younger than 18 years of age” at the time the material was created, per the indictment.

The indictment also indicated that the movie or visual material “appeals to the prurient interest in sex and has no serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value.”

The first page of the indictment, which was filed on Sept. 23, was shared on Twitter by Texas Congressman Matt Schaefer.

“Netflix, Inc. indicted by the grand jury in Tyler Co., Tx for promoting material in ‘Cuties’ film which depicts lewd exhibition of pubic area of a clothed or partially clothed child who was younger than 18 yrs of age which appeals to the prurient interest in sex,” Schaefer tweeted.

Meanwhile, a Texas Tribune report stated that the streaming platform could face a fine of up to $20,000 based on Texas’ penal code. Also, the court has the right to increase the penalty if the company “benefited financially from a crime.”

Netflix defended the film and said that “Cuties” is a “social commentary against the sexualization of young children. This charge is without merit and we stand by the film,” Variety quoted Netflix’s spokesperson, as saying.

Several people on social media were quite happy with the news of indictment.

“Good! I canceled my Netflix when this movie was first being prompted. Some real morality issues at Netflix,” one user commented.

“Good work !!! That movie is vile and extremely disturbing,” another user commented.

“GOOD!!!! It (‘Cuties’) was disgusting I could not even believe my eyes,” a different social media user wrote.

"I am so VERY proud to be a American...THANK YOU!" another netizen wrote.

"Netflix is going to pay on this one. We can only hope for arrests," one user commented.

According to the streaming service, the film tells a story of a girl named Amy (Fathia Youssouf) who rebels against her family’s conservative values when she becomes fascinated with a free-spirited dance crew called Cuties.

Amid the controversy, the movie has become one of the lowest-rated movies on IMDb. The film, directed by Maïmouna Doucouré, currently holds a score of 2.8 on the website.