Rebel Wilson is no stranger to controversy. The Pitch Perfect star ruffled feathers in 2015 when she appeared in a costume that many perceived as mocking the Black Lives Matter movement during the MTV Video Music Awards. Now, the actress is garnering controversy once again for her comments on the Ellen DeGeneres show. While promoting her film Isn’t It Romantic, Wilson said, “I’m proud to be the first-ever plus-sized girl to be the star of a romantic comedy.”
The problem with her comment is it is false all around. She isn’t the first plus-size actress to star in a romantic comedy. The immediate backlash to Wilson’s remark was valid, swift and unrelenting. Many users were quick to dispel Wilson’s revisionist history, noting that plus-size actresses such as Queen Latifah, Mo’Nique and Ricki Lake were at the center of their romantic comedy vehicles. For those unfamiliar, Queen Latifah starred in the rom-coms Just Wright and Last Holiday. Oscar winner Mo’Nique starred in the 2006 rom-com Phatz. Before those, talk show host Ricki Lake began her career as an actress, starring in the 1989 romantic comedy Baby Cakes.
Check out the response to Wilson’s comment below:
Rebel Wilson clearly went to the Sam Smith School of Googling https://t.co/4B4OccJVSX
— Ira (@ira) November 1, 2018
Not much grey area. pic.twitter.com/GtAz5a8t8D
— Franklin Leonard (@franklinleonard) November 2, 2018
I love @RebelWilson as much as the next girl, but she isn’t the first plus sized woman to play the lead in a romantic comedy. Queen Latifah and Mo’Nique have both played romcom leads ???? https://t.co/l2uEpwvcsF
— Halfapintdoll (@Halfapintdoll) November 1, 2018
1. Rebel Wilson is definitely not the first plus-sized woman to lead a rom-com, thanks to Queen Latifah, Monique, and several others.
2. Nia Vardalos and Rene Zellweger are not plus-sized.— Jessica Ellis (@baddestmamajama) November 1, 2018
Rebel Wilson saying she’s the first plus sized girl in a rom com like this iconic gem doesn’t exist pic.twitter.com/iblpPM4TXZ
— tony (@florababe_) November 1, 2018
Rebel Wilson being hilariously wrong in an interview on Ellen, reported on by Huffpo.
This is like peak white people. pic.twitter.com/8zs3LQqpFW
— The Man From K.O.D.A.K. (@benshootsthings) November 1, 2018
And from judging by her response, she doesn’t get it!
Hey girl! Yeah I of course know of these movies but it was questionable as to whether: 1. Technically those actresses were plus size when filming those movies or 2. Technically those films are catorgorized/billed as a studio rom-com with a sole lead. So there’s a slight grey area
— Rebel Wilson (@RebelWilson) November 1, 2018
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