Leslie Jones Recalls Jason Reitman’s ‘Unforgivable’ ‘Ghostbusters’ Comment: ‘Damage Was Done’

In her new memoir, Leslie Jones calls out Ghostbusters: Afterlife director Jason Reitman for what she considered an “unforgivable” comment.

IN Leslie Fuck Jones, the comedian, 51, describes her life and career, including her time in the 2016 Women’s Film. Ghost busters movie. Jones starred alongside Kate McKinnon, Kristen Wiig and Melissa McCarthy in the film directed by Paul Feig.

Years after that film’s release, Reitman, whose late father Ivan directed the original two 1980 films. Ghost busters of films, published Ghostbusters: Afterlife (2021), which ignored what Feig’s film had established in the franchise.

After announcing his plans to build Ghostbusters: AfterlifeReitman said on Bill Burr’s Monday Morning Podcast he was “trying to return to the original technique and return the film to the fans.”

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Leslie Jones, Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig and Kate McKinnon in “Ghostbusters” (2016).

Cinematheque/Shutterstock

“I do not work Juno from Ghost busters movies,” the Juno the director said then. “This will be a love letter Ghost busters…. I want to make a film for my colleague Ghost busters fans.”

Reitman’s comments drew backlash from those who felt he was suggesting the 2016 film was not for fans. The director clarified his comments on Twitter, writing that what he said “came out wrong” and that he thought the film was “amazing.”

However, Jones writes in his memoirs that “the damage was done.”

Biggest bombshells from Leslie Jones’ new memoir: From ‘Ghostbusters’ drama to private health battle

“Bringing out the idea of ​​the film ‘giving back to the fans’ was a pretty clear salute to all those losers who were hounding us for making an all-female film. [movie],” Jones wrote, referring to the sexist backlash she received Ghost busters film received.

A representative for Reitman did not respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.

In her memoir, Jones also addressed the racist and sexist messages she received about herself online Ghost busters the role. She said she “went through the ringer” during that time.

“Why are people so mean to each other? How can you sit and type ‘I want to kill you.’ Who does that?” she wrote, also adding that the “online abuse” started even before the film debuted in theaters.

“… The sad keyboard warriors who lived in their mother’s basements hated the fact that this sacred work of perfect art now had — gasp! The horror! — women in the lead roles,” Jones wrote. “The worst part, of course, was that one of the main characters was a black woman. For some men, that was the last straw.”

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Jones deactivated her Twitter account shortly after the film’s release, tweeting at the time: “I’m leaving Twitter tonight with tears in my eyes and a very sad heart. All this because I made a movie. You can hate the movie, but s— today I got it…wrong.”

The comedian exclusively told PEOPLE that writing her memoir was “very therapeutic.”

She explained: “I think I’ve learned through trials and tribulations, how much I’ve triumphed, how much I’ve changed, how much I’ve grown. Just a lot of stuff. A lot of self-realization.”

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Source: HIS Education