Paul Feig took to Twitter to defend his Ghostbusters star Leslie Jones.
“You are a goddess & one of the warmest funniest forces of nature I know. F— the haters,” the director tweeted Tuesday. “And haters, attack me all you want but when you attack and insult my cast, you’ve crossed the line. Grow up and leave my cast alone.”
Feig came to the actress’ defense after a backlash erupted regarding her character’s depiction in the comedy’s trailer. Users noted last Thursday that her role as an MTA employee — opposite white actresses Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig and Kate McKinnon, who play scientists — was stereotypical.
“Why can’t a regular person be a ghostbuster,” Jones asked on Twitter at the time, after sharing a note of gratitude from an actual MTA worker for her character. “Regular People save the world everyday so if I’m the sterotype!! [sic] Then so be it!! We walk among Heroes and take them for granted.”
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The Saturday Night Live comedian went on to defend her role to individual users’ criticisms, and retweeted others who supported her role.
“I’m playing a hardworking woman.Theregular one that rep the people. You guys are the racists by labeling her a lowly MTA worker.Notme,” she continued. “Doesn’t make her [character] dumb or not needed.”
Though Jones initially embraced the conversation around her role, she noted on Tuesday that she is debating leaving Twitter — a note that led to Feig’s words.
See a sampling of their tweets below.
Don’t leave us, @Lesdoggg. You are a goddess & one of the warmest funniest forces of nature I know. Fuck the haters. https://t.co/rwh8CIxCk4
— Paul Feig (@paulfeig) March 8, 2016
And haters, attack me all you want but when you attack and insult my cast, you’ve crossed the line. Grow up and leave my cast alone.
— Paul Feig (@paulfeig) March 8, 2016
Why can’t a regular person be a ghostbuster. Im confused. And why can’t i be the one who plays them i am a performer. Just go see the movie!
— Leslie Jones (@Lesdoggg) March 4, 2016
Regular People save the world everyday so if I’m the sterotype!! Then so be it!! We walk among Heroes and take them for granted.
— Leslie Jones (@Lesdoggg) March 4, 2016
ITS NOT A MAN, WOMAN, RACE, CLASS THANG!! ITS A GHOSTBUSTER THANG!! AND AS FAR AS IM CONCERNED WE ALL GHOSTBUSTERS!! STAND TALL!!
— Leslie Jones (@Lesdoggg) March 4, 2016
I’m playing a hardworking woman.The regular one that rep the people. You guys are the racists by labeling her a lowly MTA worker.Not me
— Leslie Jones (@Lesdoggg) March 7, 2016
Doesn’t make her char dumb or not needed.Every movie has that element cause it’s A MOVIE!Next movie I’ll B a teacher or soldier or scientist
— Leslie Jones (@Lesdoggg) March 7, 2016
But this role I’m a MTA worker.people I’m an actor I play everyone.Y’all are the ones making this bad.So next time I’ll be a Minion.Ok?!
— Leslie Jones (@Lesdoggg) March 7, 2016
