'Onion' tweet targets 9-year-old Oscar nominee

Korina Lopez and Maria Puente, USA TODAY | USATODAY

The Onion CEO Steve Hannah posted an apology on behalf of the staff members who sent a tweet targeting Oscar nominee Quvenzhané Wallis, 9. But the mea culpa came hours after the offensive tweet and after The Onion posted a tweet this morning on an unrelated subject, suggesting that the satirical publication had chosen to ignore complaints.

Twitter exploded in rage after the tweet at 11:42 p.m. Sunday. "Everyone else seems afraid to say it, but that Quvenzhané Wallis is kind of a (four-letter word that begins with C), right?" it read.

It was unclear what prompted the tweet.

Almost immediately, furious responses began to fly. Almost immediately, the tweet was taken down, but it didn't matter. By 1 a.m. ET today, dozens of tweets per second were being posted, virtually all of them expressing contempt, incredulity or outrage.

Tweeters demanded that The Onion apologize.

Tweeters demanded followers unfollow the magazine's Twitter feed, while others said that wasn't enough. The Twitterverse was being urged to make calls, send e-mails and boycott the magazine in protest.

"Not that they would care, but I have no plans of ever following @theonion for their HORRIFIC tweet about a nine year old Oscar nominee," tweeted Oscar-winning actress Marlee Matlin.

The Onion is notorious for its cutting satire, but it's usually at least a little funny. But, as responding tweets kept repeating, this remark wasn't funny.

UPDATE: At 9:40 a.m. ET, The Onion posted something on an unrelated topic:

In Focus: Price-Gun-Wielding Maniac Riddles Supermarket With Savings http://onion.com/13IA6jk

That tweet generated more criticism from the Twitterverse. Couple of notable ones:

- Almond Seals ‏@EpitomeOfPR

I pray to God you all have a hell of a PR team... That was by far a fatal mistake @TheOnion

- D'Brickashaw ‏@DragonflyJonez

We dont care about your jokes until you apologize RT @TheOnion: Price-Gun-Wielding Maniac Riddles Supermarket With Savings