The Razzie Awards have withdrawn a 12-year-old actress from nominations for the worst actress award after facing backlash online.
The Golden Raspberry Awards - also known as the Razzies - take place every year on the eve of the Oscars, to commemorate the worst of the worst in film over the past year.
The alternative awards show - which has existed for over four decades - is usually taken lightheartedly, to poke fun at the buttoned-up seriousness of normal awards shows.
However, this year's nominations have ruffled feathers for being mean-spirited to 12-year-old actress Ryan Kiera Armstrong, who was nominated for worst actress for her role in Firestarter.
While the Razzies encourage stars to "own their bad", the winners and nominees rarely turn up to the ceremony to accept their less-than-desired accolade.
Fans were left disappointed after seeing that a child was nominated for the worst actress, as they voiced their concerns about the mental health impact it could have on Armstrong.
They tweeted: "A 12 year old actress is nominated for a Razzie award? What the actual f**k? This world is broken. It really is. Please cancel this nomination. Please don't put this kind of pressure on a kid," while another added: "Can we at least wait until a person is an adult until we attempt to hurl mockery and derision at them?"
One social media user wrote: "If you want to know how scummy the Razzie awards are, look no further than them nominating a 12-year-old for worst actress."
Another commented: "Nominating a 12 year old for a Razzie is the lowest form of scum behavior."
Armstrong starred in 2022's Firestarter alongside Zac Efron, as a little girl with the power of pyrokinesis. The movie is based on Stephen King's 1980 novel of the same name, and is a remake of the 1984 film starring Drew Barrymore in the role of the child with the ability to start fires with her mind.
The 2022 version was widely panned by critics, with Rolling Stone calling it a "four-alarm disaster", while the Guardian added: "No one here seems to know what they’re doing and, more importantly, why."
However, despite the film itself flopping, some viewers praised Armstrong's performance - which was filmed when she was just 11.
Responding to the backlash, the Razzies co-founder John Wilson told Buzzfeed News that organizers had debated whether to include her in the category after the 1,100 voting members put her in fifth place but finally chose to include her as she is an "experienced actress, even if she's only 12".
He told the outlet: "I can see how it could be taken that way [as mean]. I don't think that was how it was meant. I think people who get upset about it — I don't even know how to say this. The rage is interesting — perhaps somewhat justified, but I think overblown."
Wilson added of the backlash: "There's a righteousness about it. It's the Razzie Awards, for goodness’ sake!"
He then explained: "The intent was to be funny. In this particular instance, we seem to have misstepped very badly. I would admit that."
However, the awards later tweeted that they had changed their minds and would not be including Armstrong in the final vote, adding: "In light of feedback (which we’ve come to agree with) the @RazzieAwards will not be including Ryan Kiera Armstrong on the final voting ballot."
Armstrong's representatives have yet to comment on the matter.
