14 DAY TRIAL // One of the documentaries getting a lot of media attention these days is The Weinstein Company's “Bully,” a film that aims to expose the chilling “tradition” in US schools and, at the same time, send victims of bullying the message that they're not alone.
However, it can't do that, since the MPAA rated it an R, which means that the very target audience for the film can't see it.
The Weinsteins have already appealed the rating once, but to no avail.
Now, celebrities are also rallying to get the movie out there to as wide an audience as possible, People magazine reports.
Of them, Demi Lovato is perhaps the one that appeals to the younger generation the most. The former Disney star, who battled severe body image and health issues not long ago, was bullied in school for being fat.
She knows what victims of bullying go through every day – and she wants her fans to join the protest and force the MPAA's hand to reconsider the rating.
“Please help repeal the R rating on 'BULLY.' EVERYONE should be able to see it. Sign the petition,” Demi wrote to her 6 million Twitter followers.
She's not the only one either to speak for the documentary and the need to have the MPAA let youngsters see it.
Ellen DeGeneres and Katy Butler have also been very vocal on the issue.
“It's an important movie for everyone to see, especially kids,” Ellen said on a recent show, which featured Butler as guest.
“We've got the MPAA's attention, and with nearly 300,000 signatures and support from celebrities and politicians, there's now a national movement of people calling on the MPAA to drop the R rating for Bully,” Butler added.
“As someone who lived through bullying day in and day out in school, including having my finger broken by bullies, this film is too important to silence with an R rating. Everyone should have a chance to see Bully,” she further said.
The trailer for “Bully” is below. The MPAA explained the R-rating by the existence of scenes depicting violence against children.
