What Is ‘Cuties’ on Netflix Really All About? Was It Removed by the Streaming Giant?

Cuties is based on Director Maïmouna Doucouré’s own growing years. She was born
to Senegalese immigrants and grew up in a Muslim family just like the
protagonist in her movie Cuties. After it premiered at The Sundance Film
Festival, Netflix shared the movie’s poster and that is when all hell broke
loose. 

[data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==]

It is not uncommon for the streaming giant to be embroiled in controversy, but
none where even politicians got involved. Much more than the content of the film
it was the poster that caused the outrage. The poster showed the girls in
exposing clothes and suggestive poses. Twitteratis and critics called Doucouré’s
work a glorification of pedophilia. 


WHAT IS THE NETFLIX MOVIE, CUTIES ABOUT? 

The movie follows an 11-year-old Amy, who is born to devout Muslim parents.
Struggling to find her identity, she joins a dance crew, Cuties. The girls wear
short revealing outfits, dye their hair, and twerk! The movie is a commentary on
race and social media that has a profound impact on young girls’ identity.

 “This film depicts the exact way I grew up [and] the Muslim culture that I grew
up in. Amy evolves in the film in this exact culture in which I evolved in. So,
it is very important for me to show an Islam that is far from stereotypical and
far from what we normally see on the screen about Islam,” Doucouré said
[https://www.theroot.com/cuties-maimouna-doucoure-will-not-be-erased-in-the-con-1845052710]. 

The backlash was bad. Those who defended the movie were called pedophiles and
perverts. #CancelNetflix was trending on Twitter. The streamer was even accused
of promoting child pornography. 

ALSO READ: 5 Key Learning of Ye’s Life From ‘Jeen Yuhs: A Kanye Documentary’
Series on Netflix
[https://netflixjunkie.com/5-key-learning-of-yes-life-from-jeen-yuhs-a-kanye-documentary-series-on-netflix/]


IS THE FRENCH SENEGALESE MOVIE STILL AVAILABLE ON NETFLIX?

Despite the widespread controversy, Cuties remains on Netflix. Although the
company apologized
[https://variety.com/2021/digital/news/netflix-manipulated-search-algorithm-limit-cuties-backlash-1235098375/]
for the same, the co-CEO added, “I think it’s a little surprising that in 2020
in America, we’re having a discussion about censoring storytelling,” in
defensedefense
[https://deadline.com/2020/10/netflix-co-ceo-ted-sarandos-fires-back-at-cuties-controversy-1234595815/]. 

According to Verge’s
[https://www.theverge.com/2021/10/26/22747488/netflix-suppress-cuties-algorithm-search-results-dave-chappelle]
reports, leaked internal documents revealed that the company manipulated its
algorithm. In doing so the movie won’t show up in recommendations or anybody’s
home page. This was an effort on the part of the digital giant to reduce the
press coverage on the show and the movie’s reach. However, if you search the
keyword, you can easily access the movie. 

ALSO READ: “I just always saw myself for my personality and not for the color of
my skin”: Simone Ashley Speaks About the Power of Representation and How
‘Bridgerton’ Helps It
[https://netflixjunkie.com/netflix-news-i-just-always-saw-myself-for-my-personality-and-not-for-the-color-of-my-skin-simone-ashley-speaks-about-the-power-of-representation-and-how-bridgerton-helps-it/]

 

Srabani Biswas

Comment

What Is ‘Cuties’ on Netflix Really All About? Was It Removed by the Streaming Giant? - Netflix Junkie

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Srabani Biswas is a writer at Netflix Junkie. She is a sociology graduate from Lady Brabourne College. Previously, she has contributed to Sports India Show and The Sports Room as a sports writer, and interned at Ripples Learning. A daydreamer, a dancer, and a lover of dogs, she enjoys quiet evenings with her laptop and a cozy blanket. With so much to do and so little time, she is constantly worried about her growing pile of unread books and unwatched shows on Netflix. Her favourites include Stranger, Vincenzo, Hello! My twenties,  Emily in Paris, Never Have I Ever, Peaky Blinders, Stranger Things, Reply 1997 and Sex Education.

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What Is ‘Cuties’ on Netflix Really All About? Was It Removed by the Streaming Giant? - netflix-junkie

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Cuties is based on Director Maïmouna Doucouré&#8217;s own growing years. She was born to Senegalese immigrants and grew up in a Muslim family just like the protagonist in her movie Cuties. After it premiered at The Sundance Film Festival, Netflix shared the movie&#8217;s poster and that is when all hell broke loose. 
<img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-23147 lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" data-src="https://netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/NINTCHDBPICT000603439774-1-scaled.webp" alt="" width="2560" height="1787" data-sizes="auto" data-srcset="https://www.staging.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/NINTCHDBPICT000603439774-1-scaled.webp 2560w, https://www.staging.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/NINTCHDBPICT000603439774-1-300x209.webp 300w, https://www.staging.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/NINTCHDBPICT000603439774-1-1024x715.webp 1024w, https://www.staging.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/NINTCHDBPICT000603439774-1-768x536.webp 768w, https://www.staging.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/NINTCHDBPICT000603439774-1-1536x1072.webp 1536w, https://www.staging.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/NINTCHDBPICT000603439774-1-2048x1430.webp 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px" />
It is not uncommon for the streaming giant to be embroiled in controversy, but none where even politicians got involved. Much more than the content of the film it was the poster that caused the outrage. The poster showed the girls in exposing clothes and suggestive poses. Twitteratis and critics called Doucouré&#8217;s work a glorification of pedophilia. 
<h2>What is the Netflix movie, Cuties about? </h2>
The movie follows an 11-year-old Amy, who is born to devout Muslim parents. Struggling to find her identity, she joins a dance crew, Cuties. The girls wear short revealing outfits, dye their hair, and twerk! The movie is a commentary on race and social media that has a profound impact on young girls&#8217; identity.
 &#8220;This film depicts the exact way I grew up [and] the Muslim culture that I grew up in. Amy evolves in the film in this exact culture in which I evolved in. So, it is very important for me to show an Islam that is far from stereotypical and far from what we normally see on the screen about Islam,” Doucouré <a href="https://www.theroot.com/cuties-maimouna-doucoure-will-not-be-erased-in-the-con-1845052710" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>. 
The backlash was bad. Those who defended the movie were called pedophiles and perverts. #CancelNetflix was trending on Twitter. The streamer was even accused of promoting child pornography. 
ALSO READ:<a href="https://netflixjunkie.com/5-key-learning-of-yes-life-from-jeen-yuhs-a-kanye-documentary-series-on-netflix/"> 5 Key Learning of Ye’s Life From ‘Jeen Yuhs: A Kanye Documentary’ Series on Netflix</a>
<h2>Is the French Senegalese movie still available on Netflix?</h2>
Despite the widespread controversy, Cuties remains on Netflix. Although the company <a href="https://variety.com/2021/digital/news/netflix-manipulated-search-algorithm-limit-cuties-backlash-1235098375/">apologized</a> for the same, the co-CEO added, &#8220;I think it’s a little surprising that in 2020 in America, we’re having a discussion about censoring storytelling,” in defense<a href="https://deadline.com/2020/10/netflix-co-ceo-ted-sarandos-fires-back-at-cuties-controversy-1234595815/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">defense</a>. 
According to <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2021/10/26/22747488/netflix-suppress-cuties-algorithm-search-results-dave-chappelle">Verge&#8217;s</a> reports, leaked internal documents revealed that the company manipulated its algorithm. In doing so the movie won&#8217;t show up in recommendations or anybody&#8217;s home page. This was an effort on the part of the digital giant to reduce the press coverage on the show and the movie&#8217;s reach. However, if you search the keyword, you can easily access the movie. 
ALSO READ: <a href="https://netflixjunkie.com/netflix-news-i-just-always-saw-myself-for-my-personality-and-not-for-the-color-of-my-skin-simone-ashley-speaks-about-the-power-of-representation-and-how-bridgerton-helps-it/">“I just always saw myself for my personality and not for the color of my skin”: Simone Ashley Speaks About the Power of Representation and How ‘Bridgerton’ Helps It</a>

5 Key Learning of Ye’s Life From ‘Jeen Yuhs: A Kanye Documentary’ Series on
Netflix

“I just always saw myself for my personality and not for the color of my skin”:
Simone Ashley Speaks About the Power of Representation and How ‘Bridgerton’
Helps It

cuties-netflix-03-1

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Cuties, the French Netflix movie that caused all the ruckus on Twitter and had the conservatives enraged. Find out how to watch the movie.

Srabani Biswas is a writer at Netflix Junkie. She is a sociology graduate from Lady Brabourne College. Previously, she has contributed to Sports India Show and The Sports Room as a sports writer, and interned at Ripples Learning. A daydreamer, a dancer, and a lover of dogs, she enjoys quiet evenings with her laptop and a cozy blanket. With so much to do and so little time, she is constantly worried about her growing pile of unread books and unwatched shows on Netflix. Her favourites include Stranger, Vincenzo, Hello! My twenties, Emily in Paris, Never Have I Ever, Peaky Blinders, Stranger Things, Reply 1997 and Sex Education.

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What Is ‘Cuties’ on Netflix Really All About? Was It Removed by the Streaming Giant?

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