The comedic award ceremony acknowledged that nominating a 12-year-old for worst actress was inappropriate.
The Golden Raspberry Awards, commonly known as the Razzies, is an annual spoof awards show that runs parallel to prestigious events like the Oscars and Golden Globes. Instead of celebrating excellence in entertainment, the Razzies highlight shortcomings and low moments in the entertainment industry, including poorly-received movies and lackluster performances.
While the awards are largely meant in jest, the organizers conceded that one nomination this year crossed a line. The nomination for worst actress went to 12-year-old Ryan Kiera Armstrong for her role in Firestarter. The decision stirred controversy due to the insensitivity toward such a young performer, prompting a public apology from the Razzies and the withdrawal of her nomination.
John B. Wilson, one of the co-founders of the Razzies, remarked, “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.” He also stated, “The recent valid criticism of the choice of 11-year-old Armstrong as a nominee for one of our awards brought our attention to how insensitive we’ve been in this instance. 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 to Ms. Armstrong, and wish to say we regret any hurt she experienced as a result of our choices.”
After nominating 12-year-old Ryan Kiera Armstrong for “worst actress,” the Razzie Awards have apologized and implemented an age limit. January 25, 2023
— Variety (@Variety)
“We have never intended to sabotage anyone’s career. That’s why our Redeemer Award was established,” the statement concluded. “We all make mistakes, including us. Since our motto is ‘Own Your Bad,’ we acknowledge that we must also adhere to it.”
Going forward, the Razzies will only consider actors and actresses who are 18 years old or older for nominations.
