Ellen stands up for “Bully”

Ellen DeGeneres uses her daytime talk show to entertain but every once in awhile, she will use it to speak out on a topic she feels passionate about.

One of those things is the new documentary Bully which has been given an R-rating by the Motion Picture Assn. of America because of the foul language used by some of the kids in the film.

The MPAA has denied an appeal by distributor The Weinstein Co. which is pushing for a PG-13 rating.

‘Having an R rating makes it difficult for anyone under the age of 17 to see it,’ DeGeneres said on her syndicated talk show this week. ‘Also, you can’t show R-rated movies in schools and that’s exactly where it needs to be shown.’

‘So, I think it’s important for the rating to be PG-13,’ DeGeneres added. ‘That was the intention of the filmmakers. … I think it’s an important movie and I think it can change lives.’