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Emmy-Winning Actress Responds to Criticism of Her Weight

Jun 14, 2013  •  Post A Comment

An Emmy-winning and Oscar-nominated actress fired back about criticism of her weight as it resurfaced as an issue in the media during publicity for her new movie.

"Mike & Molly" actress Melissa McCarthy focused in particular on a review from February by Rex Reed in the New York Observer. The New York Times reports that McCarthy, who is promoting “The Heat,” in which she co-stars with Sandra Bullock, offered a belated response to Reed, who raised objections to her weight and called her "tractor-sized.”

As previously reported, Reed’s February review of the movie “Identity Thief” came under fire from readers, who also objected to his characterization of McCarthy as a "female hippo."

Asked about the review, McCarthy said her initial reaction had been, "Really?” and “Why would someone OK that?”

Without mentioning Reed by name, she added, "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.”

She said had she received the review when she was 20, it "may have crushed me." But now, raising two young daughters in "a strange epidemic of body image and body dysmorphia,” she said comments such as Reed’s “just add to all those younger girls, that are not in a place in their life where they can say, ‘That doesn’t reflect on me.’ ”

McCarthy won an Emmy in 2011 for “Mike & Molly” and was nominated for an Oscar in 2012 for “Bridesmaids.”

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Melissa McCarthy

One Comment

  1. At one time Rex Reed was a big deal. A very little man with a giant ego and who was given platforms for his nasty comments (Dick Cavett Show, Tonight Show, etc.) and was also a major syndicated film critic. Now he writes for a barely registering NY newspaper. While Melissa is exactly where he wants to be…a beautiful person in the spotlight. She is now a beloved major TV and film star and he starred in “Myra Brekenridge”. Ah, jealousy reared it’s ugly head!

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