Leslie Jones Slams 'Ghostbusters: Afterlife' Director Over 'Unforgivable' Insult Towards 2016 Reboot - Read Her Firey Response!

Summary

Leslie Jones calls Jason Reitman's comment about the 2016 Ghostbusters film "unforgivable" and a nod to the sexist backlash it received.

The 2016 Ghostbusters received mixed reviews, with some applauding its original comedy, while others criticized it as an unnecessary remake featuring an all-female cast. The cast members had to endure severe sexist and racist backlash on social media.

Reitman's Ghostbusters: Afterlife intends to return the franchise to its origins and please the fans. However, his statement overlooks the sexist criticism that the 2016 film encountered.

Ghostbusters (2016) star Leslie Jones strongly condemns Jason Reitman's offensive joke regarding the film. The 2016 remake, which deviated from the original 1984 classic, featured a female-led main team consisting of Jones, Kate McKinnon, Kristen Wiig, and Melissa McCarthy. Due to the mixed reception of the film, director Reitman released Ghostbusters: Afterlife in 2021, excluding the 2016 cast.

In an extract from her forthcoming memoir titled Leslie F*cking Jones: A Memoir, shared by Rolling Stone, Jones candidly discusses problematic remarks made by Reitman. She specifically mentions a comment made by the director on Bill Burr's podcast, where he stated, "We are, in every way, trying to go back to the original technique and hand the movie back to the fans." Jones expresses her strong disapproval, deeming this quote "unforgivable" and a "shout-out to all those losers who went after us for making an all-female film." Please read the complete quote from Jones below.

Not only was there racist content, but I also began to witness classism when I started working on this movie. Even Jason Reitman, the director of Ghostbusters: Afterlife and the son of the original director, Ivan, made an unforgivable statement about our 2021 version during an interview on Bill Burr's podcast. He mentioned that we are completely committed to restoring the original approach and giving the movie back to the fans.

Upon realizing his mistake, he expressed his thoughts in a tweet, stating,

"Oops! My previous statement came out incorrect! I want to clarify that I hold nothing but admiration for Paul, Leslie, Kate, Melissa, and Kristen, as well as the incredible courage they exhibited while creating Ghostbusters 2016. They successfully broadened the boundaries of that fictional world and produced a truly remarkable film!"

But the harm had already been inflicted. Mentioning the notion of returning the movie "to the fans" served as an evident acknowledgment to all those individuals who criticized us for creating a film featuring solely women.

Why Was 2016’s Ghostbusters So Controversial?

Upon its release, the 2016 version of Ghostbusters received a mixture of reviews from both audiences and critics. While some praised the unique comedic talents of Jones and her fellow cast members, others believed that the film failed to capture the essence of the original 1984 Ghostbusters. Specifically, there were comments suggesting that the all-female cast was merely a gimmick and that the remake was unnecessary.

Reitman's Ghostbusters: Afterlife received mixed reviews, unlike the highly criticized 2016 Ghostbusters. Unlike its predecessor, Afterlife included the original cast members and did not feature an all-female cast at its core. The movie aimed to return the franchise to its roots and cater to the fans, according to Reitman. However, critics couldn't overlook the distastefulness of Reitman's statement, considering the controversy surrounding the 2016 film. As Jones points out, many of these so-called "fans" were the same individuals who harshly criticized her Ghostbusters film solely because of its all-female cast. Although Reitman later commended the film's "bravery," his initial reaction praising the "original technique" is painful for individuals like Jones. Regardless of any shortcomings Ghostbusters may have as a film, it is crucial for other influential directors to refrain from perpetuating sexist backlash in their reviews.

Source: Leslie F*cking Jones: A Memoir via Rolling Stone