Rebel Wilson Says She’s The 1st Plus-Sized Woman To Star In A Romantic Comedy, Social Media Disagrees Citing Queen Latifah

Rebel Wilson Says She’s The 1st Plus-Sized Woman To Star In A Romantic Comedy, Social Media Disagrees Citing Queen Latifah

“Pitch Perfect” star Rebel Wilson received criticism from social media after affirming some false narratives while on “The Ellen Show.” In promotion of her 2019 Valentine’s Day romantic comedy, Wilson declared,

I’m proud to be the first-ever plus-sized girl to be the star of a romantic comedy.

After her comments went viral, social media swarmed with different arguments, as many noted Queen Latifah and her list of credits in romantic comedies such as “Just Wright” and “Last Holiday.”

One Twitter user directly questioned Wilson’s sentiments,

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

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

Wilson replied to the user’s tweet attempting to defend herself,

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

https://twitter.com/RebelWilson/status/1058129473562804224

The conversation of plus sized women being disregarded for their race – in addition to their size – became prominent, as well.

One user questioned,

I’d like to know where in the hell @RebelWilson commented on the fact of white vs. black female leads?! Oh wait…she didn’t! But of course, we gotta make this about race

I’d like to know where in the hell @RebelWilson commented on the fact of white vs. black female leads?! Oh wait…she didn’t! But of course, we gotta make this about race ??????

— jaylene mcquerrey (@jaylenemcq722) November 2, 2018

While the original woman who intailly questioned Wilson’s statement clarified,

She didn’t. She merely ignored the fact that there were plus sized women of colour who played the lead role in romantic comedies before she did. Therefore making her statement on the Ellen show untrue. It also happens that POC are massively underrepresented in Hollywood.

She didn’t. She merely ignored the fact that there were plus sized women of colour who played the lead role in romantic comedies before she did. Therefore making her statement on the Ellen show untrue. It also happens that POC are massively underrepresented in Hollywood.

— Halfapintdoll (@Halfapintdoll) November 2, 2018

Wilson responded to the original user who questioned her, noting she was taken people’s critiques into consideration,