I didn't watch the Oscars tonight. Instead, I wallowed in a pit of depression, that I will address tomorrow.
I sewed a bit, and followed some comments on twitter, when I saw the photo above pop into my timeline.
Let me tell you something.
As satirical as The Onion is, it is NEVER okay to call a CHILD the word which they used. I fully understand that some of Holllywood's children can be very bratty, but SERIOUSLY?! Degrading children is what's hot now? Women have been fighting to be respected for years, and now we have to cover our daughters too?
Quvenzhane is nine years old. NINE. Her name hasn't been splashed across the papers, or media outlets for traipsing around Hollywood with some married man, or getting high. She's a KID, and the Onion crossed a BIG FAT LINE when they used this disgusting word to describe her, satire or not.
Get this though. Even if she WERE an adult, and WAS on drugs, that word isn't okay either. Understand?
Let's make it really clear. Call my ladybug or my Lil Miss the c word and see just how fast I find that supernatural strength I have.
Inappropriate, disgusting and just plain barbaric.
How do you all feel about the tweet? And don't come through here saying that it was just satire. Don't you dare.
The Cubicle Chick says
They deleted the tweet but haven't addressed the barbaric and inhumane comment they made. We cannot let them move forward under rug swept.
Natasha Nicholes says
I agree. Social media is definitely good for letting us know just how vile and cruel people can be. The problem is, they feel deletion absolves them of the crime in the first place.
Val says
An apology almost 12 hours later is waaay too late. Use some common sense. Would not call anyone this, and especially a CHILD..
Natasha Nicholes says
Correct Val. I'm especially tired of all of the people pointing out that the Onion is a satirical newspaper. Usually that satire is accompanied by a link, and is poking fun at an adult who has done something outlandish. This poor sweet girl has to be the target of something vile and unwarranted. Hopefully this is the only horrible patch she has to go through in her career.
Kesha Brown says
Sounds like if they deleted it, then they must have come to the conclusion that it was wrong of them in the first place...(or just didn't want further backlash)
Natasha Nicholes says
Too little, too late. Meh.
Janeane Davis says
I did not watch the Oscars or follow any of it on social media. I found out about this incident this morning on Facebook. It is offensive and I don't care what happened to the offending tweeter, I will never support anything associated with The Onion.
Natasha Nicholes says
#BOOM
Caroll says
Simply absurd!
Natasha Nicholes says
Isn't it?! I wonder if that tweeter has to go through sensitivity training. Oh the irony of that. Working for the Onion and going through training on how to be sensitive to children.
Rachee says
I say the same thing! I don't always get satire and I tried to appreciate what they do but this was way over the line. I think I was more upset at the idea that people who were upset were too sensitive and that we should have let it go. Bah!
Brandi says
I was LIVID. My friend Cashawn (@thepbg) always says that "Black girls ain't got nobody but themselves and Jesus." I'd like to also add...and their mamas. I'm not done with the Onion...
Pammy Pam says
how in the world does a grown person feel so impassioned and so important as to feel the need to call a CHILD the ugliest word in a dictionary? THAT person has a mama somewhere who i'm sure did not teach them to use that word. i am incensed.
Amiyrah says
This is EXACTLY what I said. That is a disgusting and shameful word and shouldn't be used on any woman and ESPECIALLY a 9 year old girl. I've never really followed The Onion on their site or twitter account, and now I most definitely never will.
Arelis Cintron says
I didn't watch the Oscars and I never heard of the Onion but I do know after hearing about the tweet I won't be following them anyway. No child should be referenced as such!