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Depp, Streep join call to lower ‘Bully’ rating

March 14, 2012 - 18:05 By Korea Herald
LOS ANGELES (AP) ― More Hollywood heavyweights are calling for a lower rating on the documentary “Bully.’’

The Weinstein Co. says Johnny Depp, Meryl Streep and New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees are supporting the film, which will be released March 30.

Lee Hirsch’s documentary on bullying in American schools has been rated R, which restricts kids under 17 from seeing it without an adult.

Distributors appealed the decision, but it was upheld by the Motion Picture Association of America, which oversees ratings.

That prompted a Michigan teenager to start an online petition calling for a lower rating so more young people can see the film. She met delivered 200,000 signatures to the MPAA, but the group declined to change the rating.

MPAA spokesman Howard Gantman did not address the possibility of a lower rating for “Bully’’ in his response Tuesday.

“We respect the viewpoints of members of Congress and the public and Hollywood celebrities who care deeply about an issue that is troubling our nation,’’ he said in an email.