The Razzies Apologize and Remove 12-Year-Old Actress From Nominees After Facing Backlash

The Golden Raspberry Awards, better known as “The Razzies,” is a parody award show honoring the worst of cinematic under-achievements. Co-founded by UCLA film graduates and film industry veterans John J. B. Wilson and Mo Murphy, the Razzie Awards' satirical annual ceremony has preceded its opposite, the Academy Awards, for four decades.

The awards usually get a good chuckle from nominees and film fans, like back in 2010, when Sandra Bullock was awarded two Razzies for “Worst Actress” and “Worst Screen Couple” alongside co-star Bradley Cooper, for their movie All About Steve. This could easily be shrugged off, as it was the same year that Bullock won an Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance in The Blind Side.

But this year, those behind the Razzies have really gotten themselves into trouble. When the nominees were announced earlier this week, young actress Ryan Kiera Armstrong was included on the list of Worst Actresses for her role in the remake, Firestarter. Armstrong is only 12 years old, and the internet was really mad that she would get targeted by this, as she’s just a kid.

After backlash from many, including former child actor Devon Sawa, who reportedly tweeted: “The Razzies are run by soulless people. Nominating a 12-year-old? F**k them. That child could grow to be amazing if you haven’t gotten in their head.” (It appears Sawa since deleted his tweet.)

And fellow child actor Julian Hilliard, who has appeared in WandaVision and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness also lent Armstrong his support, writing: “The razzies are already mean-spirited & classless, but to nominate a kid is just repulsive & wrong. Why put a kid at risk of increased bullying or worse? Be better.”

In a statement, Razzies founder John Wilson apologized and confirmed Armstrong’s name has been removed from the ballot. He also said that going forward under-18s would not be eligible to be nominated for the awards.

It would have been nice if someone had thought of that before the list was released, but at least it’s a positive step moving forward. Hopefully Ryan Kiera Armstrong is able to shake this off and move forward with her career. After all, even Sandra Bullock has won a Razzie, so she’s in pretty good company.

via: Variety