Bullied Student Asks the MPAA to Give ‘Bully’ a New Rating

Poster for Bully
Poster for Bully - Poster © Weinstein Company

There’s a campaign going on on Change.org urging the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) to lower the rating of the documentary film Bully from an R to a PG-13. An R rating effectively keeps the film out of middle and high schools, and that’s the audience that should be seeing Bully.

75,000+ people have signed the petition launched by Michigan high school student Katy Butler asking the MPAA to review their rating of the film. Butler was bullied in middle school and knows firsthand the importance of getting an anti-bullying message across to teenagers.

“I can’t believe the MPAA is blocking American teenagers from seeing a movie that could literally save thousands of lives,” stated Butler, a junior at Greenhills High School, in the press release. “I’m speaking out for all those students who suffer every day because of bullying. The MPAA needs to give Bully a PG-13 so the students being bullied, and the bullies themselves, can see this film and schools can show it as well.”

The Weinstein Company had plans to screen the film in middle and high schools but now can not because of the restrictive rating. Co-chair of The Weinstein Company Harvey Weinstein called the rating “an injustice” and has threatened to leave the MPAA because of their decision.

Bully was directed by Lee Hirsch and is set for a theatrical release on March 30, 2012.