Tulsi Gabbard calls Netflix ‘complicit’ in whetting the appetites of pedophiles after Cuties release

Former presidential candidate Tulsi Gabbard condemned streaming platform Netflix on Friday, saying the company is complicit in helping fuel the sex-trafficking industry after the release of Cuties.

Cuties, a French film about an 11-year-old girl who finds an escape from her traditionalist family in a free-spirited dance troupe, has been met with concerns over its alleged promoting of child pornography and pedophilia. The hashtag #CancelNetflix trended on social media throughout Thursday and Friday.

“@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, a Democratic representative from Hawaii, said.

Lawmakers are taking bicameral action against the film. Sen. Tom Cotton and Rep. Jim Banks announced Friday that they are seeking charges against Netflix through the Justice Department, the Daily Caller first reported.

Netflix defended the film on Thursday, saying it actually criticizes sexualization of children. The film, however, shows young girls dancing in provocative ways multiple times.

“Cuties is a social commentary against the sexualization of young children,” Netflix said in a statement to Fox News. “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.”