The new Conservative leader joined the chorus of American politicians condemning Netflix for streaming the French film Cuties. Outrage was initiated by a provocative preview poster, whose presentation of 11-year-old girls led Netflix to apologize. But defences of filmmaker Maïmouna Doucouré still couldn’t stop backlash from building.
Some cherry-picked affection
A billboard expressing enthusiasm for J.K. Rowling lasted for about 36 hours on East Hastings Street in Vancouver. The declaration was defaced before Pattison Outdoor heeded requests to remove the message that two local residents paid for. An identical tribute was removed in Edinburgh, Scotland, due to “its political nature.”
TikTok sees an American future with Oracle. A company Donald Trump likes struck a deal with the video app, but it’s unclear how much of its technology will remain Chinese property. Canada was previously defined—along with Australia and New Zealand—as part of the U.S. operation of TikTok, which has a lobbyist in Ottawa.
The coronavirus is unclothed
Strip clubs are under new scrutiny in Toronto after reports of COVID-19 cases were linked to a second club in the weeks since their reopening was allowed. Club Paradise temporarily ceased operations after six employees and one patron tested positive. But, like the Brass Rail before it, contact information left at the door is incomplete:
Aline Chrétien dead at 84. The wife of Canada’s 20th prime minister first met Jean Chrétien in 1951, as teenagers riding a bus in Shawinigan, Quebec. Her obituaries highlight how she arguably saved his life in November 1995 when a knife-wielding intruder was prevented from entering their 24 Sussex bedroom thanks to Aline’s quick thinking.
Finally, one streaming knockout
Bruised will be one big deal linked to the 2020 Toronto International Film Festival: its acquisition by Netflix is estimated to near $20 million. Halle Berry plays a disgraced mixed martial arts fighter in her directorial debut, which was touted on the cover of Variety. Its outdoor premiere also benefited from a local co-star who’s got her number:
