When it comes to Leslie Jones playing an MTA employee in "Ghostbusters," haters think it's strange, and it doesn't look good. But the movie's director Paul Feig is about to change everything.
After the "Ghostbusters" trailer dropped, many criticized Leslie Jones' role for supposedly perpetuating racial stereotypes -- Jones plays an MTA clerk while her white female co-stars play scientists. In an interview with Empire (that took place before the controversy), Feig makes a big reveal, proving stereotypes weren't what he and co-writer Katie Dippold were thinking about.
"We had written the role with Melissa [McCarthy] in mind," says Feig. "But then I thought I’ve seen Melissa play a brash, larger than life character. She's done it in my movies before!"
Feig says he doesn't normally like comedy that’s "big and loud," but Jones is able to "pull that off in a way that feels real and it’s her."
The director says, "I wanted to unleash Leslie on the public in the same way we unleashed Melissa on the public in 'Bridesmaids,' with a very showy role.”
Since the trailer's release, Jones was basically forced to defend her part in the movie due to criticism that was spiraling out of control. Feig also came to his actor's aid, tweeting that haters have "crossed the line."
"Grow up and leave my cast alone," he wrote.
Following the controversy, Jones tweeted that you have to "love your haters," though her most recent post mentioned how she was thinking about quitting Twitter altogether.
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