'Worst Performance By Bruce Willis' Award Removed From This Year's Razzies; Some See It As Disingenuous.
The Razzies has made a name for itself by awarding some of Hollywood's worst films and performances of a given year since 1981. Seen as a fun roast of Tinseltown residents by some and a blight on the industry by others, this year the awards show will be pulling its punches out of respect for Bruce Willis.
In recent years, fans of Willis have been wondering why he has been making a slew of dreadful, straight-to-streaming, low-budget films. Many thought he had gone the route of so many A-listers, the likes of Nicolas Cage and John Cusack, who have been lending their talent to less-than-notable cinema simply because they can.
But Bruce Willis' reason for doing so has come to light in recent days. Diagnosed with Aphasia, a tragic ailment that affects a person's cognitive abilities and communication skills, Willis was forced to star in smaller roles that only required a few days of work.
The Razzies, known for punching low at celebrity missteps, was set to have a special category this year: Worst Performance by Bruce Willis. However, after his family announced Willis' need to step away from the industry for his medical condition, The Razzies decided to pull the award out of respect for his issue.
They said in a statement,
"After much thought and consideration, the Razzies have made the decision to rescind the Razzie Award given to Bruce Willis, due to his recently disclosed diagnosis. If someone's medical condition is a factor in their decision making and/or their performance, we acknowledge that it is not appropriate to give them a Razzie."
Many have been critical of the awards show over the years, feeling that the event is nothing more than a tasteless excuse to make fun of others. Critic Scott Weinberg took to Twitter to lambaste them,
The LA Times reported Willis's condition as being a grown concern for those who worked with him in recent years,
"These individuals questioned whether the actor was fully aware of his surroundings on set, where he was often paid $2 million for two days of work. Filmmakers described heart-wrenching scenes as the beloved Pulp Fiction star grappled with his loss of mental acuity and an inability to remember his dialogue...Most action scenes, particularly those that involved choreographed gunfire, were filmed using a body double as a substitute for Willis."
We wish Bruce Willis and his family all the best during these difficult times.
