UPDATE: Following an enormous public outcry, The Onion Editor, Steve Hannah, has finally posted the following response to Sunday night’s “deleted” tweet:
I’m speechless. Just when I thought I’d seen it all in the world of Child Stars and abusive media, turns out media outlet @TheOnion has sunk to an absolute new low in what usually qualifies as satirical humor.
TheOnion.com is under siege for posting the following statement on twitter last night at 8:42 p.m. PT, Sunday regarding a female child star: “Everyone else seems afraid to say it, but that Quvenzhané Wallis is kind of a c–t, right? #Oscars2013.”
Original, Unedited Tweet Screen Captured Below:
The post basically incited a twitter riot and many rushed to Wallis’ defense, verbally scolding “The Onion,” for 1) targeting a minor and 2) in such a distasteful, abusive and unforgivable manor.
@TheOnion THIS WAS HER BIG NIGHT! SHE’S 9 YEARS OLD! N-I-N-E! SERIOUSLY?
The Wire star Wendell Pierce, tweeted a demand that the site issue an apology, stating: “@TheOnion Identify the writer. Let him defend that abhorrent verbal attack of a child. You call it humor I call it horrendous. It doesn’t matter what the intent was, it was offensive and they should apologize to Quvenzhane.”
The Daily Show co-creator Lizz Winstead (the champions of sarcastic humor) aptly posted: “9-year olds are always so into irony. #AndAlwaysAppreciateIt #Edgy #Fail @TheOnion.”
Many celebrities and legitimate media outlets have noted that it’s unacceptable that The Onion merely deleted the offensive tweet without addressing it or apologizing for it. We’ll keep you posted on the outcome. If you have a twitter account, you may want to let @TheOnion know how you feel about this.
Child Actor Quvenzhane Wallis arrives at Oscars 2013 at Hollywood & Highland Center in Hollywood, California. (Photo courtesy Jason Merritt/Getty Images)
This is the first I’ve heard about this incident. Not only are personal apologies in order to this sweet young child, I feel further investigation is called for about a person who would fixate and use a sexual nature in describing a CHILD!
This isn’t two teenagers getting into an argument. This isn’t about children acting badly for ANY reason. This is about a grown adult thinking about a young child they don’t even know and strongly feeling the need to sexualize and degrade that CHILD.
At a minimum, that person and anyone in their chain of supervision that allowed the statement to be released, should be investigated and sent for therapy. I would definitely question their access to children. I’m sick to my stomach.