Netflix, a US media service and streaming giant has apologised after being accused of sexualising children on the marketing poster of Cuties, its forthcoming French movie.
The poster released by Netflix shows the young girls of the film in revealing clothing and provacative dance poses.
Ahead of the film’s release, thousands of movie fans across the globe took to Change.org to signed a petition for Cuties to be removed from the streaming site.
The movie was dubbed “disgusting as it sexualizes an eleven-year-old for the viewing pleasure of pedophiles and also negatively influences our children.”
The petition also that there is no “need for such content in that age group, particularly when sex trafficking and paedophilia are so rampant.”
Several movie fans took to social media to call out the streaming site. A movie fan wrote: “Dear @netflix have you totally lost your mind? I hope this petition for the removal of the show, reaches a million signatures.“
Another wrote: “Netflix has a movie called “Cuties” about 11 year olds in a twerking dance group. Some of the reviews claim it’s a “commentary” on the sexualization of children but this is the poster. And keep in mind that the lead actress is actually 11 years old. In the film and real life.”
Reacting, however, Netflix tendered an apology on twitter for the “inappropriate artwork” and added that the pictures have been replaced.
“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 twitted.