Netflix has been accused of glamourizing sex trafficking after commissioning an Italian drama based on the Baby Squillo teen prostitution scandal. The U.S.-based National Center on Sexual Exploitation (NCOSE) called for eight-part drama Baby to be axed ahead of its launch.
The SVOD service ordered the series, which is produced by Italian firm Fabula Pictures, in November. It explores the lives of high school teenagers in Rome and is loosely inspired by a true story, the Baby Squillo scandal, which saw the husband of Mussolini’s grand-daughter caught up in a teen prostitution racket in the Parioli district. Mauro Floriani (pictured), the husband of Alessandra Mussolini, was accused of being one of 20 clients of teenage schoolgirls who were selling themselves for sex.
However, in a letter to Netflix, NCOSE Vice President Lisa Thompson accused the broadcaster of normalizing child abuse and said there were double standard after dumping Kevin Spacey from House of Cards following sexual assault allegations.
“Netflix recently fired Kevin Spacey… To turn around and produce a show that glorifies the sex trafficking of minors and dub it ‘edgy entertainment’ is the height of hypocrisy,” she said. “There are no ‘baby prostitutes’ – only sexually abused, exploited and raped children.”
