LOS ANGELES (CNS) - Organizers of the Razzie Awards -- the annual tongue-in-cheek ``honors'' recognizing what it deems the worst films and performances of the past year -- have rescinded the nomination they announced earlier this week for a 12-year-old actress, a pick that generated online backlash.
The Razzie nominations announced Monday morning included a ``worst actress'' nod for adolescent ``Firestarter'' actress Ryan Kiera Armstrong.
The nomination was met with angry feedback on social media, with organizers facing a host of criticism for including a 12-year-old girl on such a dubious list.
``The razzies are already mean-spirited & classless, but to nominate a kid is just repulsive & wrong,'' 11-year-old ``WandaVision'' actor Julian Hilliard wrote on his Twitter account. ``Why put a kid at risk of increased bullying or worse? Be better.''
Feeling the heat, Razzie organizers announced Tuesday that they were taking back Armstrong's nomination.
``In light of feedback, which we've come to agree with, the @RazzieAwards will not be including Ryan Kiera Armstrong on the final voting ballot,'' the organization wrote on its Twitter page.
Razzie founder John Wilson said in a statement that the organization has also instituted a policy against nominating any performer under age 18 for its awards, formally known as the Golden Raspberry Awards.
``Sometimes, you do things without thinking, then you are called out for it. Then you get it. It's why the Razzies were created in the first place,'' Wilson said. ``... As a result, we have removed Armstrong's name from the final ballot that our members will cast next month. We also believe a public apology is owed Ms. Armstrong, and wish to say we regret any hurt she experienced as a result of our choices.
``Having learned from this lesson, we would also like to announce that, from this point forward, we are adopting a voting guideline precluding any performer or filmmaker under 18 years of age from being considered for our awards,'' he said.
``We have never intended to bury anyone's career. It is why our Redeemer Award was created. We all make mistakes, very much us included. Since our motto is `Own Your Bad,' we realize that we ourselves must also live up to it.''
``Winners'' of the 43rd Razzies will be announced on March 11, a day before the 95th Academy Awards ceremony.
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