Melissa McCarthy Slams Those 'Ghostbusters' Haters

With the Ghostbusters release date drawing ever closer (it comes out on July 15), criticisms about the movie should surely be reserved until people have actually seen it. Alas, that's not how the internet works, and it's impossible to go a day without a new, and generally sexist, critique of the Ghostbusters reboot coming to light. Luckily, all four of the new female Ghostbusters are completely kick-ass, and aren't worried about all of the negativity leveled against them. During McCarthy's appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live on Wednesday, alongside co-stars Kristen Wiig, Kate McKinnon, and Leslie Jones, she took down the Ghostbusters haters in an awesome way. And, when it comes to defending the franchise, Melissa McCarthy's feminism is consistently on point, as demonstrated in that same appearance.

This isn't the first time McCarthy has defended the new Ghostbusters film, and I'm certain it won't be the last. In May 2016, the actor told The Guardian, “Four women doing any movie on earth will destroy your childhood? I have a visual of those people... not having friends, so they’re just sitting there and spewing hate into this fake world of the internet. I just hope they find a friend.” When asked by Jimmy Kimmel on Wednesday night how the cast felt about the strong objections to the new Ghostbusters movie, Melissa McCarthy said, "Terrific fellas! What they don’t say when they’re typing is that one minute after they type that their mom is like, ‘Get upstairs and take out the garbage. You’re 45 years old!'"

The Gilmore Girls actor's rebuttal to all of the online hatred is so perfect because it highlights how easy it is for haters to hide out on the internet. McCarthy's response may play heavily on the stereotype that most internet trolls are just lonely people who still live at home with their parents, but her joke is also rooted squarely in feminism. Since no one has yet seen the new Ghostbusters movie, most of the criticism against it is grounded in misogyny. Instead of waiting to watch the movie and then decide, many critics have expressed concern that a favorite '80s film has been made with a female cast.

This is so problematic, because classic movies get remade regularly. It appears that the central reason people are so unhappy with Ghostbusters is that it features four female leads. If the movie had been remade with four male characters, would the hatred be half as much? And, for that matter, when the original film starred all male characters, why was there no hate about the lack of equality there?

That McCarthy is unfazed by continued misogyny and hate is inspiration to us all. It's possible to stand by your feminist principles in the face of extreme online outrage and hate mail. That she calls out the haters who have yet to justify their negative comments against the movie proves how strong the actor is, and how unwilling she is to be torn down by anyone who won't judge her work on its own merits.

Image: Jimmy Kimmel Live/YouTube