Empire star Gabourey Sidibe hits back at 'haters' who fat-shamed her over steamy love scene
Actress Gabourey Sidibe has responded to critics who fat shamed her after she appeared in a love scene during Wednesday's episode of Empire.
The 32-year-old actress was seen on the show alongside her character Becky Williams' love interest MC J Poppa - played by actor Mo McRae - in an opening scene that featured the two enjoying an intimate moment on a rooftop.
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But after the episode aired, the Oscar-nominated actress found herself to be the subject of cruel taunts online, one social media user even created a meme that used a screen shot of the love scene next to the words: 'Damn, some of you people can't even get a text back'.
Speaking out: Actress Gabourey Sidibe, 32, has hit back at body shamers who posted cruel memes online after she starred in a sex scene on the latest episode of Empire
Mean-spirited memes: After the airing of the episode, cruel comments and memes appeared online showing Gabourey in her sex scene with Mo McRae's character
The meme appeared to imply that it was somehow surprising that...Gabourey's character could attract the attention - and the lust - of someone like MC J Poppa.
Some commenters on the posts added to the hate, writing things like 'yuck' and 'now they've gone too far' about the episode.
But in a blog for EW on Thursday, the actress took the critics head on, saying that not only was she proud of the scene, but didn't care in the least about anyone having a problem with it.
'I, a plus sized, dark-skinned woman, had a love scene on primetime television,' she wrote. I had the most fun ever filming that scene even though I was nervous. But I felt sexy and beautiful and I felt like I was doing a good job.
Hit back: Following the hateful comments, Gabourey wrote in a blog that she 'had the most fun ever filming that scene' and that she 'felt sexy and beautiful' while filming it
Stepping above: The actress also said that it's 'okay' that people want to hate, adding to the critics that, 'you may have your memes'
'I’m very proud of the work we all did to make that scene a great opening for the episode. I keep hearing that people are “hating” on it. I’m not sure how anyone could hate on love but that’s okay. You may have your memes.'
She added: 'Honestly, I’m at work too busy to check Twitter anyway. #Booked. Hope you enjoy next week’s show!'
Plenty of fans also came to the actresses defense, with one writing: 'People are just mean. All I see is two people in love, do y'all really think big girls cannot get some action?'
Many of Gabourey's cast mates on Empire also praised her for the scene. Co-star Jussie Smollett, who plays Jamal Lyon on the show, called it 'beautiful' and praised Gabourey for 'owning herself' and when told about the negative comments, said the critics should just close their eyes and turn off their TVs if they have a problem.
Big role: Gabourey stars as assistant Becky Williams on Empire opposite actors including Terrence Howard (right) and Jussie Smollett
All sass: It's not the first time Gabourey has defended herself against body shaming, but says she is comfortable with her size
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I wanted to see it, and millions of other people wanted to see it,' Jussie told E! Online. 'I don' know, those people don't matter to me, to her, to anybody else.'
It's not the first time the actress has spoken out in defense of her shape against fat-shamers. In fact, the star was equally sassy when trolls took to social media to criticize her over the dress she wore to the Golden Globes last year, with some of the mean-spirited comments comparing her to a condom or 'the chubby ghost from Casper'.
'To people making mean comments about my GG pics, I mos def cried about it on that private jet on my way to my dream job last night. #JK,' Gabourey confidently replied on Twitter.
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