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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
Entertainment
Heather Saul

Melissa McCarthy celebrates the women behind the Ghostbusters re-boot in empowering picture

Nominees with a birthday in the second half of the year are more likely to have something to celebrate in the Supporting Actress category tonight, judging by recent winners. This makes Dame Judi Dench, nominated for My Week with Marilyn, and Melissa McCarthy (pictured), nominated for Bridesmaids, frontrunners (Getty Images)

Melissa McCarthy has celebrated all of the women who contributed to the Ghostbusters re-boot in a powerful image showcasing the female script writers, hairdressers, actors and assistants who worked on the film.

Having four women in lead roles is still incredibly rare, with only 14 per cent of protagonists in films released last year being female, according to Time.

The Ghostbusters cast has been beset by sexism from the moment the all-female line-up was announced, with fans angered that it did not use four men like in the 1984 original. The reaction was so extreme that director Paul Feig said he came close to abandoning the film after being “inundated with hate”, describing the backlash as “vile, misogynistic s**t”.

Feminist quotes from the icons to inspire you

And earlier this month, photos of McCarthy, Kristen Wiig, Kate McKinnon and Leslie Jones’s surprise visit to a medical centre in Boston attracted negative comments from disgruntled Ghostbusters fans criticising the decision to cast them in the film.

McCarthy shared an image of all of the women who played a role in the film on Tuesday to celebrate Ellen DeGeneres' new collaboration with Gap, which focuses on promoting girl power. 

Alongside the images, she wrote: “Three cheers to @theellenshow from all the remarkable women of #ghostbusters. When we stand together we are unstoppable! #girlpower”

Read more: Melissa McCarthy's response to one sexist question
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