Melissa McCarthy Won’t Be Getting Apology From Rex Reed
Melissa McCarthy shouldn’t wait on an apology from Rex Reed, the movie reviewer who once called her “tractor-sized” and a “female hippo.”
The New York Observer critic is standing by his review of the movie Identity Thief in which he attacked McCarthy, saying her health struggles are no laughing matter.
“I can only repeat what I have said before — that I do not have, nor have I ever had, anything personal against people who suffer from obesity,” Reed wrote to Us Weekly in an email. “What I object to is the disgusting attempt to pretend obesity is funny. It is not remotely humorous, and every obese comedian who ever made jokes about the disease are now dead from strokes, heart disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes.”
Reed added that his comments are protected by the First Amendment, and he stands by all his original remarks about Melissa McCarthy an her obesity, “which I consider about as amusing as cancer.”
Other critics disagreed with Red Reed, saying he went too far in his criticism of McCarthy.
“It’s fair to comment on any actor’s appearance if it’s relevant to the character the actor is playing, the performance, and how that actor’s physical traits add to or detract from the performance,” film critic Richard Roeper told Us Weekly. “But this just smacks of mean-spirited name-calling in lieu of genuine criticism.”
Melissa McCarthy seems to be comfortable with who she is. The actress spoke recently to More magazine, saying she was once concerned with her physical appearance, but now those worries have faded.
“I’ve been every size in the world,” McCarthy said. “Parts of my twenties, I was in great shape, but I didn’t appreciate it. If I was a 6 or an 8, I thought ‘why aren’t I a 2 or a 4? bought into it—I should be taller, thinner, have better hair. But that’s part of being young.
“Now, especially with kids, you lose any sense of time or energy to worry about all the little stuff.”
For her part, Melissa McCarthy said she isn’t too concerned about Rex Reed’s comments. She said earlier this month that she is sorry for “someone who is swimming in so much hate.”
