Melissa McCarthy became ‘physically ill’ because she was tormented by someone on a ‘hostile’ set: ‘There were people who were crying’
Melissa McCarthy opened up about a very painful professional experience this week when she gave an interview to The observer.
The beloved star, 52 – who was recently harassed by fans in Australia – revealed she was harassed by someone on a ‘volatile, hostile’ set and became ‘physically ill’ from the toxic workplace.
McCarthy further explained that the unidentified person routinely made the crew “cry” and would manipulate Melissa into firing those she “loved.”
The veteran actress said: “I once worked for someone who ran such a volatile, hostile set it made me physically ill. My eyes swelled up, absorbing all this weirdness.
“There were people crying, visibly upset by that one person,” Melissa said. “And I think that’s why the manipulation worked because to get to me this person would fire people I loved, which kept me quiet.”
Her nightmare: Melissa McCarthy, 52, opened up about a very painful professional experience this week when she gave an interview to The Observer; pictured at the premiere of The Little Mermaid in London this month
Brutal experience: The beloved star revealed she was tormented by someone on a ‘volatile, hostile’ set and became ‘physically ill’ from the toxic workplace
The Bridesmaids star added, “It was very effective. One day I thought: “It stops today!” I kept saying to them: it stops, it stops. And I know now that I will never be silent again.’
Melissa used the power of candor to help her Little Mermaid co-star Halle Bailey deal with the immense pressure of playing Ariel in the blockbuster live-action remake of the animated classic.
Speak against CNNHalle described how Melissa — who plays the villainous Ursula in the Disney movie — empowered her on set: “She told me, ‘Yeah, I had to learn. I wasn’t always like that, and when you’re young, you’re timid. .”‘
The up-and-coming superstar went on to share how McCarthy taught her to “speak up and say what works for her” in the workplace.
She also praised McCarthy’s confident demeanor on set, saying it was inspiring to see her “come on set and be so comfortable with who she was in her own skin and (see) stand up for herself”.
Speaking to The Observer, Melissa spoke about her passion for comedy and praised its power to unite people in a polarized world.
“It’s a fistfight to get comedies made right now,” she said. ‘And I don’t know why, because we never laughed again.
Comedy allows you to sit next to someone whose ideas don’t match. And maybe you’ll get a little closer. I think that’s what I have to do in this world.’
Tears on set: McCarthy went on to explain that the unidentified person routinely made the crew “cry” and would manipulate Melissa into firing those she “loved”; pictured at the Australian premiere of The Little Mermaid this month
Fight on: The veteran actress said, “I once worked for someone who ran such a volatile, hostile set that it made me physically sick. My eyes swelled up, absorbing all this weirdness. There were people crying, visibly upset by that one person’; pictured at CinemaCon in April
Box office tsunami: Melissa plays Ursula in the blockbuster live-action remake of The Little Mermaid, which is expected to make a big splash when it debuts in theaters over Memorial Day weekend — potentially becoming the biggest hit of McCarthy’s career
The star got even more candid as she discussed her ultimate purpose in the world, saying, “I can’t do many useful things.” I don’t know how to clean up the oceans or stop our violent tendencies.
“But hopefully I can give someone who’s had a bad day an hour and a half to go to another world where bills or illness aren’t the main thing. That’s the only skill I really have. So I have to keep trying.’
The Little Mermaid is expected to create a sensation when it hits theaters over Memorial Day weekend – possibly the biggest hit of McCarthy’s career.
Current projections show that the live-action remake of the 1989 animated classic raked in $110 million in its four-day opening weekend, according to deadline.