Nearly a decade later, Twitter recalls the harmful vitriol surrounding a young Black actress’ historic nomination.

People On Twitter Are Remembering The Disgusting Way Quvenzhané Wallis Was Treated When She Became An Oscar Nominee At 9

In 2013, the world fell in love with Quvenzhané Wallis, the bright-eyed nine-year-old star of Beasts of the Southern Wild. Her historic Best Actress Oscar nomination made her the youngest-ever nominee in the category. Yet, instead of celebrating this remarkable achievement, a disturbing wave of online cruelty surfaced. It revealed a dark truth: fame has no age limit when it comes to sexism and racism.

The Onion’s Infamous Tweet

The satirical publication The Onion ignited a social media firestorm when they tweeted a highly offensive slur directed at Wallis. The tweet was met with instant and justified backlash from celebrities, activists, and everyday Twitter users disgusted by the attack on a child.

Beyond the Shock Factor

The Onion’s tweet wasn’t just an example of bad taste. It tapped into a deeply ingrained misogynoir (misogyny directed at Black women) that reduces Black women and girls to crude stereotypes and denies them dignity and respect.

The backlash forced The Onion to apologize, but the damage to Wallis’s big moment was done.

A Decade Later, the Lesson Remains

Nearly ten years later, discussions of the incident remind us that the internet can be a cruel space, especially for young women of color. It’s a wake-up call to challenge harmful narratives and protect those most vulnerable to online abuse.

How Fierce Millennials Can Help

• Support Black Women Creatives: Amplify the voices of Black women and girls in film, literature, and the arts. Celebrate their talents and achievements.
• Educate Yourself: Explore the reality of misogynoir and the intersectionality of gender and race-based discrimination.
• Speak Out: When you see online abuse, don’t be a bystander. Call out harmful behavior and offer support to targets of harassment.