Netflix Controversial French Film Cuties Tied To Massive Subscriber Cancellation Rate For Netflix

Numbers show that American streaming giant Netflix disappointing third-quarter earnings are associated with an eightfold increase in subscriber cancellations due to anger about the provocative French film Cuties. Last week Netflix sent a letter to its investors saying that it fell short of its subscriber goal last quarter.

House Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, called the controversial film unacceptable saying, “Netflix child porn “Cuties” will certainly whet the appetite of pedophiles & help fuel the child sex trafficking trade. 1 in 4 victims of trafficking in children. It happened to my friend’s 13-year-old daughter. Netflix, you are now complicit. #CancelNetflix.”

The movie sparked backlash after its September 9 release, prompting calls for a boycott of Netflix and the hashtag #CancelNetflix began trending on social media.

Netflix News Insights

Netflix is a giant in the world of streaming content with 195 million subscribers worldwide.

Two data analytics firms assert that there was a sharp rise in customer cancellations around the time that calls were growing for a boycott of Netflix over its airing of the controversial film.

The antenna is a data analytics firm that tracks Netflix subscribers and they reported a “meaningful spike in churn rate,” following the hashtag #CancelNetflix going viral. Churn refers to the cancellation of pay services like Netflix.

Data analytics firm YipitData reported in mid-September that, “churn in the U.S. rose materially this weekend as a result of the “Cuties” backlash.” Days after the #CancelNetflix hashtag went viral, YipitData reported that “disconnects were running at nearly 8x the daily levels observed in August and reached a multi-year high.”

In Mid-September Netflix Was Losing Five Times As Many Subscribers After The Release Of Cuties

Cuties is directed by French-Senegalese Maïmouna Doucouré and tell the story of Amy, an 11-year-old girl who finds comfort with a dance troupe while being raised by strict Muslim parents.

The girl dance group learns sexualized choreography, inspired by music videos and social media, in preparation for a dance competition.

Despite Doucouré defending the film as being inspired by her own experiences and calling it a social commentary on the need to protect children, the film has been accused of, “hyper-sexualizing children.”

On September 23 a Texas grand jury indicted Netflix for broadcasting lewd material in their state. Netflix has said, Cuties, “is a social commentary against the sexualization of young children. The charge is without merit and we stand by the film.”

Be sure to catch up on everything happening with Cuties. Come back here often for Cuties spoilers, news, and updates.