Melissa McCarthy Brilliantly Calls Out Critic For Calling Her 'Homely'

Prepare to raise your fist to the sky in solidarity with Melissa McCarthy for responding -- face-to-face -- to a critic who called her out for her on-screen looks. Melissa recounted the story in the new issue of Entertainment Weekly. She was at the Toronto Film Festival last year when a critic who had trashed her in "Tammy" approached to praise her new movie, "St. Vincent." Melissa did not play dumb. Or nice. She asked the questions we would ask.

Here's what she told EW she said to this fella -- who is not being named, although that's more protection than he probably deserves:

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?"

He admitted he was.

"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!'?"

Melissa asked him if he had a daughter. Turns out, he did.

"Watch what you say to her. Do you tell her she's only worthwhile or valid when she's pretty?"

Yes! Not yes to that question, but yes to Melissa for confronting him with it. Melissa said she doesn't speak up very often on the sexism in Hollywood (which is not just in Hollywood, but Hollywood is extremely influential on the rest of the world), but as a parent to two daughters she's very aware of the continuing attitudes. "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.'"

Good for her for calling out that double standard -- because she's right, no one challenges male actors for being less attractive than Chris Hemsworth. Nor should they. That wouldn't be progress either. Amy Schumer just did a genius "12 Angry Men" spoof, with the dozen guys (not exactly 10s themselves) debating whether Amy was hot enough to be on television. It's a perfect take on how women are still being treated today, but at least more people are speaking back.



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