Jenny McCarthy on film critic Rex Reed calling her cousin Melissa fat: go to hell

Publish date: 2024-07-19


I am not very fond of Jenny McCarthy and generally find her insufferable, but she made some statements recently that I can really get behind. As background, an elderly film critic named Rex Reed slammed Melissa McCarthy’s new hit comedy, Identity Thief, by attacking Melissa’s size. In just a three paragraph review he called her “cacophonous, tractor-sized,” a “female hippo,” and dismissed her as “a gimmick comedian who has devoted her short career to being obese and obnoxious with equal success.”

In response to the controversy over his remarks, Reed just doubled-down, defending himself by claiming that his rude remarks “are what sold tickets” to the successful film and that he objects “to using health issues like obesity as comedy talking points. That’s what this girl does, this Melissa Manchester.” He couldn’t even get her name right. He then went on to say “I have too many friends that have died of obesity-related illnesses, heart problems and diabetes… I have helped people try to lose weight, and I don’t find this to be the subject of a lot of humor.” This a-hole just used the “I have fat friends” excuse.

So Jenny McCarthy is Melissa McCarthy’s cousin, and she summed this controversy up nicely.

Don’t mess with Jenny McCarthy’s family. One week after veteran film critic Rex Reed attacked the actress’ cousin Melissa McCarthy in a scathing write-up of the movie Identity Thief, the 40-year-old former Playboy model is speaking out. And she’s not mincing any words.

“[Melissa is] very talented and people know that,” McCarthy told E! News of the Bridesmaids star. As for Rex Reed? “He can go to hell.”

Reed, a critic for the New York Observer, has been under fire from many corners since Feb. 5, when he called Melissa McCarthy “tractor-sized” and a “female hippo” in his review of her latest hit comedy, co-starring Jason Bateman. He also accused the Oscar-nominated actress of being “a gimmick comedian who has devoted her short career to being obese and obnoxious with equal success.”

“That’s obnoxious in itself,” Jenny McCarthy told E! of Reed’s insults. “For anyone to attack like that, it’s just wrong and hurtful, and it doesn’t do anyone any good.”

[From US Weekly]

I agree with Jenny. Say the movie sucks if it does (and I’ve heard Identity Thief sucks) but don’t attack the lead’s size. No one says that Kevin James’ movies are crappy because he’s overweight.

Melissa is shown in stills from Identity Thief and at the premiere with her husband on 2-4-13. Credit: WENN.com

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