Barbra Streisand doesn’t always have great luck with the internet, it seems. 20 years ago, it was the Streisand effect — now, it’s her weird Ozempic comment on Melissa McCarthy’s Instagram, which she’s since walked-back with a statement, saying “I forgot the world is reading!”
The story began on Monday when McCarthy shared photos of herself and artistic director Matthew Bourne attending the Center Theatre Group’s annual gala. Commenting on the post and referencing the popular weight-loss drug, Ozempic, Streisand wrote, “Give him my regards did you take Ozempic?” The comment has since been deleted (though screenshots on social media still exist).
Today, Streisand shared a statement acknowledging the faux pas, writing, “OMG — I went on Instagram to see the photos we’d posted of the beautiful flowers I’d received for my birthday. Below them was a photo of my friend Melissa McCarthy, who I sang with on my Encore album. She looked fantastic! I just wanted to pay her a compliment. I forgot the world is reading!” See the statement below.
Of course, Streisand’s comment quickly became fodder for memes and jokes, like one Twitter user who wrote “Omg somebody please teach Barbra Streisand how to send a DM.” Others expressed disappointment with Streisand’s comment, interpreting it as insensitive.
As for McCarthy herself, though, she was dismissive of the idea that Streisand was “out of line,” telling TMZ “Oh, I think Barbra is a treasure and I love her.”
Earlier this month, Streisand released “Love Will Survive,” her first new song in six years, for the series The Tattooist of Auschwitz. Last November, she published her autobiography My Name Is Barbra.
As for McCarthy, she has a leading role in Jerry Seinfeld’s upcoming Pop-Tart film, Unfrosted, premiering this Friday, May 3rd.
— Barbra Streisand (@BarbraStreisand) April 30, 2024