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| PG-13 logo. Source: http://www.facebook.com/bullymovie |
The MPAA originally refused to budge from its decision to issue an R rating for the documentary film, which follows families impacted by bullying.
An R rating meant that the film could not be shown in schools.
Weinstein Co. co-founder Harvey Weinstein appealed the rating and on March 27, MTV reported that Weinstein had decided to release the film unrated in the United States.
A viral petition by 17-year-old Katy Butler drew nearly 500,000 signatures according to the MTV report, which can be viewed at http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1681835/bully-movie-unrated.jhtml?fb_ref=fblike_web&fb_source=profile_multiline.
A PRNewswire press release, dated April 5, relates an enormous victory for the documentary film: the MPAA agreed to lower the R rating to PG-13.
Three uses of the F-word were removed from the film but a crucial scene was left intact (PRNewswire).
This victory is personally rewarding to me because of my own experience as a survivor of childhood peer abuse: I was physically and verbally abused as well as isolated and ostracized by my classmates at Calistoga Elementary and Calistoga Junior/Senior High School.
Poignantly, children on the autism spectrum are especially vulnerable to bullying.
A DisabilityScoop report dated March 26 cites research indicating that 63 percent of children with autism have been bullied compared to 12 percent of their typically-developing siblings: http://www.disabilityscoop.com/2012/03/26/kids-autism-bullied/15242/.
That a PG-13 rating will make this movie more accessible to children, I view as a personal victory. No child should have to be bullied as I was and I hope this film expands the awareness of everyone in the community who can do something about bullying.
“The end of bullying begins with me.” Add your name to a digital petition at http://www.pacer.org/bullying/digitalpetition/.
The movie’s Facebook page gives special thanks to Butler and has posted a video link of her acceptance speech at the GLAAD Media Awards. View it at http://www.facebook.com/bullymovie.
Read the PRNewswire press release at http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/pg-13-rating-granted-for-bully-by-mpaa-without-cutting-crucial-scene-146358165.html.
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