Razzies retract worst Bruce Willis performance category after star's health revelation

The awards, which honour the worst in film, created a special category for the actor for its 42nd annual event

Actor Bruce Willis is to retire owing to aphasia, an illness that affects his cognitive faculties, his family announced. AFP

The Razzies, the awards that honour the worst in film, has retracted a special award it created for actor Bruce Willis, after the star announced his retirement owing to illness on Wednesday.

The award was described by the Razzies as a new "special" category for this year: Worst Performance by Bruce Willis in a 2021 Movie.

The actor, who appeared in several films released in the 12 months ahead of the awards, which took place on March 25, went up against himself eight times within the category for movies including American Siege, Apex, Deadlock and Out Of Death. The award was given for his performance in Cosmic Sin.

However, after the news that Willis had been diagnosed with aphasia, a cognitive disorder that affects the use and understanding of language, the Razzies announced it would be retracting the award.

“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,” said a statement from Razzie cofounders John Wilson and Mo Murphy. “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.”

However, earlier in the day on Wednesday, after Willis’s announcement, the organisation initially took a lighter approach to the news, sparking several outraged replies.

“The Razzies are truly sorry for #BruceWillis diagnosed condition,” a tweet from the official Razzies account read. “Perhaps this explains why he wanted to go out with a bang in 2021. Our best wishes to Bruce and family.”

The Razzies, known officially as the Golden Raspberry Awards, take place annually to recognise the worst of cinema.