It certainly seems odd that, this Memorial Day, news and entertainment sites are lighting up over one quote from the star of a movie that won’t be out until mid-July. Be warned, then, that tedious hot takes on the all-female “Ghostbusters” remake are likely to continue well into summer, barring some miracle that the movie turns out to be anything other than awful.
The weekend’s big entertainment news? “Ghostbusters” star Melissa McCarthy, in an interview published Saturday in the Guardian, imagined critics of her not-yet-seen film as “just sitting there and spewing hate into this fake world of the internet,” adding, “I just hope they find a friend.”
Melissa McCarthy: why Hollywood’s first lady of funny is hit and miss https://t.co/OxYavjsq2z
— The Guardian (@guardian) May 30, 2016
Melissa McCarthy Smacks Ghostbusters Haters: ‘I Just Hope They Find a Friend’ https://t.co/h6V82YQXsl pic.twitter.com/oAULUXlzKe
— Mediaite (@Mediaite) May 30, 2016
and a good movie to watch?
— ItsConplicated (@TCBlaze0) May 30, 2016
She hopes the haters find a friend? Let’s just say that word got around.
If you are unsatisfied with the #Ghostbusters trailer, @melissamccarthy says that you don't have any friends. pic.twitter.com/qn3YcJcLdd
— Supperdude9 (@Supperdude9) May 30, 2016
The Guardian notes that McCarthy is the third-highest-paid movie star in the world. And earlier this month, it reported that McCarthy herself thought the first trailer for the movie — which has now racked up more dislikes than any other video on YouTube — was such a mess that she raised her concerns with the studio.
Melissa McCarthy admits she found Ghostbusters trailer 'very confusing' https://t.co/arrj2i4D2B
— The Guardian (@guardian) May 3, 2016
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Along with being confusing, the trailer also featured quite a few cringeworthy moments making it abundantly clear that 2016’s black ghostbuster lacked a scientific background but brought “street smarts” to the team. The Internet certainly noticed and groaned loudly, but McCarthy insisted to the Guardian that the casting “was truly just a coincidence” and suggested that role was maybe, perhaps, written with her in mind.
McCarthy does have a friend in Ellen Degeneres, who had the cast on her show last week, the same day Hillary Clinton dropped by (again) to showcase her humor and heart. Those sorts of promotional events are usually reserved for release week, but there’s some damage control to be done — and suggesting that critics of the painfully unfunny trailer need to “find a friend” isn’t likely to help.
Melissa McCarthy hopes all of the negative #Ghostbusters commenters "find a friend": https://t.co/YwHKIWZtBy pic.twitter.com/8WVbQdrgNq
— Vulture (@vulture) May 28, 2016
https://twitter.com/88FingersEdward/status/736654890274017280
Wow, that makes me want to spend money on her movie…..
— Ocular Nervosa (@ocularnervosa) May 28, 2016
The movie looks awful and would look equally awful with four men. Gender has zero to do with it.
— Corleone Solo (@CorleoneSolo) May 30, 2016
But if you promote it by holding up a huge “Girl Power” banner and then it flops, what other reason can there be besides moviegoers think girls are icky?
the more she blames sexism for her mediocre films, the more people will not watch her films.
— Anthony (@anthpezz) May 29, 2016
I already have friends. They hate this piece of shit too. Now what? Keep looking til they agree with her?
— Paul (@PaulStuko) May 30, 2016
Finding a friend is almost as hard as finding the Ghostbusters trailer funny.
— John Johnsen (@PutinTaway) May 29, 2016
Don't ever use the word "Haters", it's just cute namecalling to cheaply rob valid criticism of merit
— Alexandria Brangwin (@AlexBrangwin) May 29, 2016
https://twitter.com/realbigboyshit1/status/736969112660774912
.@HuffingtonPost Why did Sony hire this guy to do all the PR for the new #Ghostbusters movie? pic.twitter.com/5zZJYh9JC2
— Mathieu (@TheAmazingBriz) May 29, 2016
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