Netflix Faces Felony Charges In Texas Over Promoting "Lewd" 'Cuties' Film

Netflix released Cuties, originally titled Mignonnes, last month.

A grand jury in Tyler County, Texas, has indicted Netflix on felony charges for promoting the film Cuties.

In a report from USA Today, the indictment against the streaming service occurred on September 23, with the grand jury accusing Netflix of promoting, distributing and exhibiting material 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" for the "prurient interest in sex." The summons was served to Netflix on October 1 by Texas Rangers, and the offense is a "state jail felony."

The legislators of this state believe promoting certain lewd material of children has destructive consequences," Lucas Babin, Tyler County District Attorney, said in a statement on Facebook. "If such material is distributed on a grand scale, isn't the need to prosecute more, not less? A grand jury in Tyler County found probably cause for this felony, and my job is to uphold the laws of this state and see that justice is done."

Netflix has since responded to the indictment, telling USA Today: "Cuties is a social commentary against the sexualization of young children. This charge is without merit and we stand by the film."

Originally titled Mignonnes, Cuties is a 2020 French coming of age film that is centered around a Senegalese-French girl who is caught in between the traditional values of her Muslim upbringing and Internet culture. Backlash against the film initially began in August, when Netflix released a promotional poster for the movie that depicted the young cast members in provocative poses. The company apologized for the "inappropriate artwork" and said it was not representative of the film.