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Melissa McCarthy Shames Sexist Film Critic, Deserves Many Feminist High-Fives

By Kristy Puchko | Celebrity | May 18, 2015 |

By Kristy Puchko | Celebrity | May 18, 2015 |


It’d be difficult to count the number of comedies that star men who’d best be described as schlubby. Anything starring Seth Rogen, Kevin James, Adam Sandler or any other dadbods already makes for a sprawling list. But when Melissa McCarthy fronts a movie and dares not to look red carpet ready in every scene, that’s enough to set some critics on attack mode.

McCarthy faced a wave of insane backlash after reports of her lead role in the Ghostbusters reboot hit, many of them rank with misogyny and sexism. So it’s none too surprising she said this about sexism in the industry while speaking to EW:

“It’s an intense sickness. For someone who has two daughters, I’m wildly aware of how deep that rabbit hole goes. But I just don’t want to start listening to that stuff. I’m trying to take away the double standard of ‘You’re an unattractive bitch because your character was not skipping along in high heels.’”

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While McCarthy strives to ignore the haters and keep on track, she did confront one unnamed critic, whose Tammy review was pretty fucking appalling. He’d approached McCarthy at the Toronto International Film Festival to sing the praises of her latest, St. Vincent, when the comedienne ditched the sycophantic niceties:

“Are you the one who wrote I was only a good actor when I looked more attractive and that my husband should never be allowed to direct me because he allowed me to look so homely?…Would you say that to any guy? When John C. Reilly—or any actor—is playing a character that is depressed and dejected, would you say, ‘Well, you look terrible!?’”

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Before parting ways, McCarthy gave the critic some advice about raising his own daughter, she replied, “Watch what you say to her. Do you tell her she’s only worthwhile or valid when she’s pretty?”

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This isn’t the first time McCarthy’s spoken out about critics commenting on her looks. Memorably Rex Reed, film critic notorious for napping during screenings, wrote in his Identity Thief review that she was “a gimmick comedian who has devoted her short career to being obese and obnoxious with equal success.”

McCarthy’s response:

“I felt really bad for someone who is swimming in so much hate. I just thought, that’s someone who’s in a really bad spot, and I am in such a happy spot. I laugh my head off every day with my husband and my kids who are mooning me and singing me songs.”

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Unfortunately, EW didn’t ask McCarthy her thoughts on 12 Angry Men Inside Amy Schumer. But we suspect she’d approve.

Kristy Puchko wants you to know: the best way to high-five is watch your partner’s elbow. You’ll never miss.