Melissa McCarthy Responds to Being Called “Tractor-Sized” By Journalist
June 14, 2013 by Jennifer Exley
When funny girl Melissa McCarthy’s film Identity Thief hit theaters in February, Ms. McCarthy got a lot of attention because of one particular review. And not in a good way.
New York Observer writer Rex Reed called McCarthy “tractor-sized” in his review. He said she was “a gimmick comedian who has devoted her short career to being obese and obnoxious with equal success.”
McCarthy had stayed quiet about the comments until a recent interview with The New York Times. Reporter Dave Itzkoff said when he asked McCarthy about the review during their chat in April her response was “Really? Why would some O.K. that?”
That is a very good question, Ms. McCarthy.
“I felt really bad for someone who is swimming in so much hate,” McCarthy told The New York Times. “I just thought, that’s someone who’ in a really bad spot, and I am in such a happy spot.”
Kudos to the Bridesmaid star for taking the high road. She supposedly didn’t even mention the name of the reporter during her comment. McCarthy even added some of her patented wit when a fire alarm test occurred during the question.
“I imagine that’s my publicist,” McCarthy joked. “The gods didn’t want us discussing this.”
McCarthy is starring alongside Oscar-winner Sandra Bullock in the cop comedy The Heat out June 28.