Harvey Weinstein (Getty Images)

Harvey Weinstein's Weinstein Company has apparently capitulated to the Motion Picture Association of America, cutting some profanity (though not any scenes in full) in order to obtain the PG-13 rating that will allow for wider viewership. Per the Los Angeles Times, the new version of the film is to roll out on April 13, when the film expands from limited to wide release. This ends a détente between Mr. Weinstein and the ratings board, during which Mr. Weinstein had previously decided to leave his film unrated rather than face the R-rating stigma. Referring to MPAA Chairman Chris Dodd and the film's subject matter, Mr. Weinstein said in a statement: "“Senator Dodd’s support gives voice to the millions of children who suffer from bullying, and on behalf of TWC, the filmmakers, the families in the film and the millions of children and parents who will now see this film, I thank him for recognizing that this very real issue cannot afford to go unnoticed.”"

Harvey Weinstein (Getty Images)

The Weinstein Company, which has had a complicated history with the Motion Picture Association of America in recent years, is threatening to leave the MPAA, a group that lobbies Washington and issues ratings. Harvey Weinstein's company lost its appeal to knock the rating of forthcoming documentary Bully, about high-school brutality, from R to PG-13. Mr. Weinstein argued that the film was important for people under 18 to see--an argument that failed to sway the ratings board.

Mr. Weinstein's company does not actually belong to the lobbying group, but the Los Angeles Times speculates he may in fact be removing his films from ratings consideration going forward--a decision that would seem to have farther-reaching consequences for Weinstein films than for the MPAA. Unrated films, like NC-17-rated films, carry a stigma--a fact of which Mr. Weinstein is almost certainly aware after submitting the sexually explicit 2010 film Blue Valentine for ratings consideration and arguing it down to an R rating.