Petition Against Mpaa 'Bully' Rating Gets 400,000 Signatures

As the leading anti-bullying organization in the country we are deeply disappointed that the MPAA has chosen to rate this movie R and won't budge on changing it, as they have with other films. Whatever their reason was for changing other ratings, they are not thinking about America's children on this one. And the Parents Television Council is taking the same stand. All of this says one thing -- these people are not taking the issue of bullying seriously. But -- we take it seriously, Lee Hirsch and Harvey Weinstein take it seriously, Katy Butler who was a victim of bullying and who created the petition takes it seriously, Johnny Depp, Ellen Degeneres and Meryl Streep take it seriously, Rep Mike Honda and other politicians take it seriously, the mothers who call our office every day in tears take it seriously, the fathers who don't know what to do to help their kids take it seriously, the over 100 kids who email us every week not knowing what to do take it seriously, the over 1600 students and the 49 we saved from suicide on our HelpChat line since June take it seriously, and the parents of all of the kids who took their lives as a result of bullying take it seriously.The fact that the MPAA is doing this sends a strong message to America's children --they don't take children's safety seriously and that is very sad. Children are who this movie is about. Children appear in the movie. The issue is about children of all ages. Children MUST see this film!Ross EllisFounder and Chief Executive OfficerSTOMP Out Bullyingstompoutbullying.org