Senator Ted Cruz Urges DOJ to Investigate Netflix, Pornographic Film “Cuties”

In response to Netflix‘s release of “Cuties”, Sen. Ted Cruz sent a letter to the Department of Justice asking it to investigate whether those participating in the making and distribution of the film have broken any federal laws regarding child pornography.

“Cuties,” a Netflix film that many have identified as child pornography, follows an 11 year-old girl in Paris who joins a dance troup that prizes sensual dance moves.

“Although the First Amendment provides vigorous protection for artistic expression, it does not allow individuals or for-profit corporations to produce or distribute child pornography,” said Cruz in his letter.

“Accordingly, I urge the Department to investigate the production of “Cuties” and Netflix’s distribution of the film in order to determine whether Netflix, any of its executives, or anyone involved with the making of “Cuties” violated any federal laws against the production and distribution of child pornography.”

The scenes that specifically concerned Cruz as well as viewers all over feature “dances simulating sexual conduct in revealing clothing” and also “partial child nudity.”

“It is likely that the filming of this movie created even more explicit and abusive scenes, and that pedophiles across the world in the future will manipulate and imitate this film in abusive ways,” he said.

Netflix refused to apologize for “Cuties” and defended it as a “social commentary” against the sexualization of girls. Big corporations and media outlets have followed suit in defense of the film.

Rotton Tomatoes describes “Cuties” as “A thoughtful look at the intricacies of girlhood in the modern age” and a “coming-of-age film that confronts its themes with poignancy and nuance.” The Tomatometer gave the film a 89%.

Its audience score is 3%.

Many believe child pornography ought to be immediately recognized as heinous; one need not experience it through graphic “commentary” to understand the horrors.

Furthermore, prizing “Cuties” as a “commentary” against pedophilia ignores that “children” had “to play these roles, they had to say filthy things (and to imagine visually the things the script had them saying), and do filthy things with their bodies for the camera,” according to Rod Drehr in the American Conservative.

Cruz recognizes that the making and showing of the film has and will have major consequences. Exposing “Cuties” for what it is might be within the power of the DOJ.

“As you know, the Department of Justice has a significant role in preventing the sexual abuse of children,” Cruz said.

“By investigating and prosecuting offenders who possess and distribute images and video sexually depicting minors, the Department both obtains justice for those who have been abused and helps protect children from future sexual abuse and exploitation.”