Controversy: Nine-Year-Old Quvenzhané Wallis Called C-Word By The Onion

Photo: AFP PHOTO/FREDERIC J. BROWN

The Onion is known for its satirical news stories on matters of pop culture but they have found themselves in quite the controversy over their recent comment on nine-year-old 2013 Oscar nominee Quvenzhané Wallis.

On Twitter The Onion tweeted an offensive comment about the “Beasts of the Southern Wild” actress that was soon deleted after it received much unwanted attention. The “joke” read, “Everyone else seems afraid to say it, but that Quvenzhané Wallis is kind of a c**t, right?” Whoa there! Did The Onion go too far? Apparently so, a public apology was released on behalf of the award-winning news source.

Steve Hannah, CEO of the publication, issued a formal statement apologizing for the remark. He wrote, “On behalf of The Onion, I offer my personal apology to Quvenzhané 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.”

He added, “No person should be subjected to such a senseless, humorless comment masquerading as satire.” Hannah said the online publication is “taking immediate steps to discipline those individuals responsible [for the tweet].” Does that fix the situation? Let me know your thoughts.