Sen. Ted Cruz on Saturday joined a growing chorus of Washington lawmakers calling for a Department of Justice investigation of Netflix over airing the new film “Cuties.”
“The video streaming service and content-producer Netflix is currently hosting a film entitled “Cuties” that sexualizes young girls, including through dance scenes that simulate sexual activities and a scene exposing a minor’s bare breast,” Cruz said in a Friday letter to Attorney General Bill Barr.
“I urge the Department of Justice to investigate the production and distribution of this film to determine whether Netflix, its executives, or the individuals involved in the filming and production of ‘Cuties’ violated any federal laws against the production and distribution of child pornography,” it continued,
Cruz adds his name to a growing — and bipartisan — list of Washington lawmakers who have criticized the film. Among others condemning the film are Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., Rep. Jim Banks, R-Ind. and Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, D-Hi.
“@netflix child porn “Cuties” will certainly whet the appetite of pedophiles & help fuel the child sex trafficking trade. 1 in 4 victims of trafficking are children. It happened to my friend’s 13 year old daughter. Netflix, you are now complicit. #CancelNetflix,” Gabbard said in a tweet.
The French film, which was released on Netflix this week, follows the story of an 11-year old girl who becomes a member of a provocative school dance group called “cuties.”
Netflix has defended the movie despite the mounting criticism,
“’Cuties’ is a social commentary against the sexualization of young children,” said a spokesperson on Thursday. “It’s an award-winning film and a powerful story about the pressure young girls face on social media and from society more generally growing up — and we’d encourage anyone who cares about these important issues to watch the movie.”