‘Cancel Netflix’ backlash grows over Cuties

Controversial French film "Cuties" has caused a backlash against Netflix by critics and customers who allege it goes over the line in portraying children in a sexualized manner.

Watch "Cuties" trailer here 

"Cuties," from French filmmaker Maïmouna Doucouré, premiered at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival and is about a 11-year-old Senegalese girl in Paris who joins a "free-spirited dance clique" to escape a dysfunctional family.

The hashtag "#CancelNetflix" was the No. 1 trending topic on Twitter in the US after "Cuties" premiered and a petition on Change.org calling on

Netflix customers to cancel their subscriptions because the film "exploits children and creates a disturbing vibe," currently has nearly 600,000 signers.

Criticism erupted in August over a promotional poster for "Cuties" depicting its young cast members in provocative poses and revealing costumes. Netflix apologised in a tweet and said the original poster did not accurately represent the film.