Nine-year-old Quvenzhané Wallis has already bagged a nomination for Best Actress with her touching performance as Hushpuppy in Beasts of the Southern Wild.
And though the publication deleted the tweet shortly after posting it, plenty of users managed to get screen shots of the offending message.
The Onion's CEO Steve Hannah wrote that the tweet was crude and offensive, not to mention inconsistent with the site's commitment to parody and satire, however biting.
He asserted that the offensive tweet was taken down in an hour and the newspaper has instituted new and tighter Twitter procedures to ensure it will not happen again and said those responsible would be disciplined.
He added that "Miss Wallis, you are young and talented and deserve better. All of us at The Onion are deeply sorry."