The Razzies co-founder tongue-in-cheek says anger over the nomination of Firestarter’s Ryan Kiera Armstrong, 12, was “overblown” amid social media excitement over the toxic nature of the awards show.
The Golden Raspberry Awards co-founder, known as the Razzies, responded to an angry reaction on social media to 12-year-old actress Ryan Kiera Armstrong’s newly announced nomination, saying he believes the reaction was “overdone”.
Controversy arose when Armstrong was nominated for Worst Actress for her performance in the film Firestarter. Many people took to social media to call out the awards show for bullying and a toxic message in nominating a teenage performer.
Co-founder John Wilson spoke to Buzzfeed about the dispute, which came less than a year after last year’s show, when he had to remove a category mocking actor Bruce Willis after his diagnosis with aphasia became public knowledge.
The latest: The co-founder of the Golden Raspberry Awards, known as the Razzies, responded to an angry reaction to 12-year-old actress Ryan Kiera Armstrong’s newly announced nomination, saying he thought the reaction was “overdone”. She was pictured in LA last fall
Wilson said that he “can see how it could be considered mean” but doesn’t “believe it was meant to be”.
He added: “I think people who are upset about this – I don’t even know how to say it. The anger is interesting – maybe a bit justified, but I think it’s overdone. There is justice in that. It’s the Razzie Awards, for goodness sake!’
Wilson said that “the intention” in nominating “was to be fun” and that “in this particular case we seem to have made a very big mistake.”
According to Wilson, the teenage actress is considered a “veteran actress, even though she’s only 12 years old,” and on the votes of approximately 1,100 voting members in the category, which also includes Bryce Dallas Howard (Jurassic Park: Dominion) and Diane, fifth place Keaton (Mack & Rita), Kaya Scodelario (King’s Daughter) and Alicia Silverstone (The Requin).
The annual awards show is designed to highlight the worst Hollywood production of the past year
Armstrong co-starred with Zac Efron in the 2022 adaptation of the Stephen King novel
Among those venturing out on social media was 11-year-old child actor Julian Hilliard, who tweeted: “The raids are already mean and classless but nominating a child is just gross and wrong. Why put a child at increased risk of bullying or worse? Be better.’
In response to a user calling the show a joke, Hilliard replied, “No, not when it’s about a kid. This “joke” can have very negative effects. You have crossed a line.”
Another user said of the nomination: “This is beyond the pale. As a critic, I believe in being honest about films, but there’s no need to be cruel. To treat a child like that is outrageous.’
Among those who took to social media to vent their anger was child actor Julian Hilliard
One user suggested the show reverse Armstrong’s nomination after deciding with Willis last year.
“Just like when they took back Bruce Willis’ Razzie Noms category last year, I urge #Razzies to retire Ryan Kiera Armstrong’s nom in Worst Actress,” the user wrote. “You have crossed a line. She is a child. Children should be taboo at Razzie. It’s time to pick it up and put an end to them!’
Another user suggested that “nominating a young talent isn’t fair” as they’re still learning, and “it’s the equivalent of beating up someone cooking a complex recipe for the first time”.
Another user said nominating a young and still-learning performer wasn’t fair, while another person said it was “monstrous”.
The show last year had to scrap a category mocking actor Bruce Willis after his diagnosis with aphasia became public knowledge
One user suggested the show reverse Armstrong’s nomination after deciding with Willis last year