Because we live in a culture that thrives on canceling people, and things, Netflix’s award-winning French film Cuties is the most recent subject of #cancelculture. After the release of the movie, a new #CancelNetflix hashtag was trending online. And shortly after, it was announced that Netflix is facing criminal charges over Cuties — a coming-of-age film that was released last month and has been widely criticized for appearing to exploit young actors and pushing for the “sexualization of children.”

Texas Tribune obtained some legal documents, where a grand jury in Texas indicted the streaming service for promoting and pushing forth content that “depicts the lewd exhibition of the genitals or pubic area of a clothed or partially clothed child who was younger than 18 years of age at the time the visual material was created, which appeals to the prurient interest in sex and has no serious, literary, artistic, political, or scientific value.” 

In a statement to the New York Post,  Netflix responded: “Cuties is a social commentary against the sexualization of young children. This charge is without merit and we stand by the film.”

Cuties is a French film written by Maïmouna Doucouré, and tells the story of an 11-year-old Muslim girl living in Paris who rebels against her strict parents by joining a girl dance group. Back in August, Netflix issued an apology for using a movie poster that was believed to sexualize the child stars. Doucouré said that Netflix’s original artwork for Cuties was “not representative of the film and especially its message.” 

It seems that Netflix is not backing down and will actually be standing by its choices.

Photo via Netflix