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Melissa McCarthy’s Takedown of a Sexist Critic Is Awesomely Badass

Melissa McCarthy on the cover of Entertainment Weekly
Melissa McCarthy confronted a sexist critic who wrote that her acting ability depended on her level of attractiveness

How do you like them apples? Melissa McCarthy forced a movie critic to eat his words — with a side of crow — after he suggested in a review that her level of attractiveness had a direct effect on her acting ability.

The Spy actress, 44, recalled the confrontation in an interview for the new issue of Entertainment Weekly, which features McCarthy on its cover. According to her account of things, the face-off went down at the Toronto Film Festival in September 2014, when the critic in question, who had previously ridiculed her performance in that summer's Tammy, approached her to praise her work in St. Vincent.

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"Are you the one who wrote I was only a good actor when I looked more attractive and that my husband [Ben Falcone] should never be allowed to direct me because he allowed me to look so homely?" she asked the unnamed reviewer.

When he replied that he was, she took him to task. "Would you say that to any guy?" she said. "When John C. Reilly — or any actor — is playing a character that is depressed and dejected, would you say, 'Well, you look terrible!'?"

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The Bridesmaids standout — who has two young daughters with Falcone, Vivian, 8, and Georgette, 5 — went on to inquire whether the critic had any daughters of his own. Upon finding out that he did, she offered him a bit of pointed advice.

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

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Unfortunately, this is not the first time the comedienne has been judged for her looks rather than her talent. Back in 2013, New York Observer critic Rex Reed trashed her movie Identity Thief, calling McCarthy "tractor-sized" and referring to her as Jason Bateman's "female hippo."

The review — which also included a line about her being a "gimmick comedian who has devoted her short career to being obese and obnoxious with equal success" — was widely panned by other stars and film critics. Richard Roeper, for one, told Us it smacked of "mean-spirited name-calling in lieu of genuine criticism."

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For the most part, McCarthy tries not to let it get to her. "It's an intense sickness," she told Entertainment Weekly of sexism in the industry. "For someone who has two daughters, I'm wildly aware of how deep that rabbit hole goes. But I just don't want to start listening to that stuff. 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.'"

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