Rebel Wilson has apologised for claiming she was the “first ever plus-size girl” to star in a romcom after she was accused of discrediting the work of black plus-size actresses Queen Latifah and Mo’Nique.
The Pitch Perfect star made the gaffe while promoting her latest film, Isn’t It Romantic, which sees her take on the role of leading lady Natalie.
Wilson, 38, has now apologised in the wake of the mass backlash, admitting she had blocked critics attempting to call her out on the error.
She wrote: “In a couple of well-intentioned moments, hoping to lift my fellow plus sized women up, I neglected to show the proper respect to those who climbed this mountain before me like Mo’Nique, Queen Latifah, Melissa McCarthy, Ricki Lake and likely many others.
“With the help of some very compassionate and well-thought out responses from others on social media, I now realize what I said was not only wrong but also incredibly hurtful.
“To be part of a problem I was hoping I was helping makes it that much more embarrassing and hard to acknowledge.
“I blocked people on Twitter because I was hurting from the criticism, but those are the people I actually need to hear from more, not less. Again, I am deeply sorry.”
Fans previously blasted the actress online, with one user tweeting: "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."
Another added: "Don’t get me wrong - there aren’t nearly enough plus-size actresses cast as romantic leads but that statement from Rebel Wilson - issa no (sic)."
A third wrote: "@RebelWilson blocking Black women for telling the truth that she is not the first thick woman in a romantic comedy? Girl bye see if you would have taken the correction it would have been fine. Guess what see how the movie does now. Australian right we know you all love Black."
Wilson’s comments come after Mo’Nique encouraged her to ”know the history” rather than being a part of “erasing it.”
The Australian actress responded: “Hi Monique, it was never my intention to erase anyone else’s achievements and I adore you and Queen Latifah so so much x.
“I support all plus size ladies and everything positive we are doing together.”
