!["The Onion" has apologized for calling 9-year-old African-American actress and Oscar nominee Quvenzhane Wallis the "c-word" in a tweet during the Oscars. Wallis is pictured here with Academy Award winning actress Halle Berry.](http://cdn2-b.examiner.com/sites/default/files/styles/image_content_width/hash/74/7c/747c17cf2c26c079b52091e9ef51261d.jpg?itok=4N4T4ihX ""The Onion" has apologized for calling 9-year-old African-American actress and Oscar nominee Quvenzhane Wallis the "c-word" in a tweet during the Oscars. Wallis is pictured here with Academy Award winning actress Halle Berry.")
In a rare move on Monday, “The Onion” – a satirical publication that often comments with biting humor on politics, business, including show business and other aspects of global affairs – apologized after being severely criticized for a tweet released by “The Onion” during Sunday evening’s 85th Academy Awards ceremony in which Oscars were awarded to the currently most-admired talents in the movie industry according to the members of the industry itself.
Michelle Obama announces "Argo" is the Best Picture at the Oscars (Video)
The Twitter message released by “The Onion” at 8:42 p.m. on Feb. 24, 2013 said:
Everyone else seems afraid to say it, but that Quvenzhane Wallis is kind of a cunt, right? #Oscars2013
Though most anything can be expected from the often-over-the-edge satirical publication, the public-back-lashed response came swiftly and severely for “The Onion.” The negative reaction was due to the fact that actress Quvenzhane Wallis is only 9-years-old. Additionally, there is the added concern that racism could have taken a part in the alleged vicious message because Wallis is African-American.
Within an hour, the Twitter message was removed, and on Monday morning – the morning after the incident, the CEO of “The Onion” posted the following apology on the online web site:
Dear Readers,
On behalf of The Onion, I offer my personal apology to Quvenzhane Wallis and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for the tweet that was circulated last night during the Oscars. It was crude and offensive—not to mention inconsistent with The Onion’s commitment to parody and satire, however biting.
No person should be subjected to such a senseless, humorless comment masquerading as satire.
The tweet was taken down within an hour of publication. We have instituted new and tighter Twitter procedures to ensure that this kind of mistake does not occur again.
In addition, we are taking immediate steps to discipline those individuals responsible.
Miss Wallis, you are young and talented and deserve better. All of us at The Onion are deeply sorry.
Sincerely,
Steve Hannah
CEO
The Onion
Quvenzhane Wallis is the youngest actress to ever be nominated for an Academy Award. She received the 2013 nomination for her performance in “Beasts of the Southern Wild.” She is now slated to star in an upcoming version of “Annie.”
Comments