@@ -1,1 +1,1 @@ - +The Onion forced to issue grovelling apology after using C-word to describe nine-year-old Oscar nominee Quvenzhané Wallis in shocking tweet during ceremony Spoof website The Onion called Quvenzhané Wallis a c*** on TwitterOffending tweet was deleted an hour later amid a storm of complaintsCEO Steve Hannah has said he is 'deeply sorry' for 'offensive' tweet<br>Viewers also vented fury over broadcasters' failure to use star's full nameE!<br><br>Fashion Police co-host Kelly Osbourne singled out for criticismOsbourne was branded 'stupid' on Twitter after calling actress 'Little Q'<br> By <br> Published: 12:18 BST, 25 February 2013 | Updated: 20:41 BST, 25 February 2013 <br> <br><br><br><br><br><br></a> <br>The boss of The Onion has been forced to issue a grovelling apology to nine-year-old Oscar nominee Quvenzhané Wallis after the satirical newspaper site referred to the young star as a 'c***' on Twitter.<br><br><br>A Tweet posted by @TheOnion during last night's Oscars ceremony said: 'Everybody else seems afraid to say it, but that Quvenzhané Wallis is kind of a c*** right?'<br><br>The post, which was deleted an hour later, provoked a storm of complaints, and the website's CEO Steve Hannah has now personally apologised to the best actress nominee for [https://omgomgomg5j4yrr4mjdv3h5c5xfvxtqqs2in7smi65mjps7wvkmqmtqd.org omgomgomg5j4yrr4mjdv3h5c5xfvxtqqs2in7smi65mjps7wvkmqmtqd] the 'crude and offensive' tweet, adding that steps were being taken to 'discipline those individuals responsible'.<br><br><br>Scroll down for video <br><br> 'Racist': Twitter was awash with complaints after best actress nominee Quvenzhané Wallis was referred to as 'little Q' in coverage of the Oscars ceremony<br> <br> <br> <br> <br><br>In a statement posted on Facebook Mr Hannah said he and everybody at the Onion were 'deeply sorry' for the remark.<br><br><br>'No person should be subjected to such a senseless, humorless comment masquerading as satire,' the statement said.<br><br><br>'Miss Wallis, you are young and talented and [https://www.news24.com/news24/search?query=deserve deserve] better.'<br><br><br>The tweet was met with a storm of angry comments and demands for an apology across social media.<br><br>Actor Wendell Pierce, who stars in Treme, described the tweet as an 'abhorrent verbal attack of a child', while another critic called for the writer behind the post to get 'exactly what they deserve.<br><br>From both the law and the street'.<br><br>Blogger Elizabeth Hawskworth suggested there was a racist undertone to the deleted post, tweeting: 'Quvenzhané Wallis is a nine year old woman of colour.<br>Let's let what @TheOnion did sink in and remember that Dakota Fanning never had this.'<br><br><br>Fans of the spoof website were among those expressing their distaste and disappointment at its use of the expletive in reference to the child star.<br> <br>'Oh boo to the Onion. I generally find them hilarious but I draw the line at calling 9 year olds ugly names, even in jest,' said one tweet, while another read: 'I know the Onion jokes about everything but this is inappropriate'.<br><br>The Onion website features satirical articles based on national and international news.<br><br>Its Twitter account has more than 4.5 million followers.<br> <br>The young actress was also at the heart of a second Twitter spat during the ceremony, after she was referred to as 'Little Q' in coverage, prompting accusations of racism.<br> <br>E!<br><br>Fashion Police co-host Kelly Osbourne was branded 'stupid' for failing to use the young actress' full name during the channel's Oscar night coverage.<br> RELATED ARTICLES <br><br><br><br>Share this article<br>Share<br><br><br><br>One disgusted viewer posted: 'It is rude, unprofessional and borderline racist to not even try to pronounce her name properly.' <br><br>Another tweeted: 'Not learning her name is racist.<br>Calling her Annie is racist. Saying she says her name the best is racist.'<br><br>Kelly Osbourne was among the broadcasters singled out in the row, with one critic tweeting: 'Aren't you paid to be a host? Do your research and practice her name.<br><br>Stupid Kelly Osbourne.'<br> 'Stupid': Viewers complained after E!<br><br>Fashion Police co-host Kelly Osbourne, left, referred to Quvenzhané Wallis as 'Little Q'<br><br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br><br>It was one of a host of angry tweets posted by enraged Oscars viewers, who insisted the media should have been prepared to pronounce Louisiana-born Quvenzhané's name in full.<br><br>'Seriously though, the media need to learn how to pronounce Quvenzhané Wallis' name.<br><br>Resorting to little q is disrespectful,' Lauren Karlisle said on Twitter, while another user tweeting under the handle @crushabledotcom posted 'OMG are they calling her little Q because they can't be bothered to learn how to pronounce her name!?!'<br><br><br>It isn't the first time Kelly Osbourne has come under fire for her Oscar night commentary.<br><br><br><br>Last year she raised eyebrows with a remark about Jennifer Lopez's Zuhair Murad gown, which Ms Osbourne referred to as 'kind of like if she was hosting the Latin Grammys - like what she would wear as her wow dress'.<br><br>Quvenzhané was nominated for an Oscar for her starring role as Hushpuppy in critically acclaimed drama Beasts Of The Southern Wild.<br><br>The rising star lost out to Jennifer Lawrence, who won for her performance in Silver Linings Playbook.<br> Commentary: Kelly Osbourne appeared to suggest the dress Jennifer Lopez chose for the 2012 Oscars would have been more appropriate for hosting the Latin Grammys<br> <br> Daniel Day Lewis triumphed in the best actor category for his role in Lincoln, while Anne Hathaway and Christoph Waltz took home the [https://search.usa.gov/search?affiliate=usagov&query=statuettes statuettes] for best supporting actress and best supporting actor.<br><br>Argo, directed by Ben Affleck, was named best picture at the ceremony in Hollywood.<br><br>Although she missed out on a statuette, Quvenzhané still made history as the youngest ever Oscar nominee in the best actress category.<br><br>The child star wore a pretty navy blue dress for her big night, teaming it with a sparkly hairband and flat pumps and a dog-shaped handbag.<br><br> <br> <br> <br> <br>  VIDEO  Quvenzhané stars in Beasts of the Southern Wild  <br> <br><br>