Barbra Streisand asked Melissa McCarthy whether she used Ozempic, then said she wanted to 'pay her a compliment' after backlash

• Barbra Streisand asked Melissa McCarthy on Instagram whether she used Ozempic.
• The legendary singer's comment was met with backlash from fans.
• Streisand later posted an explanation for her comments, saying she wanted to "compliment" McCarthy.

Barbra Streisand asked Melissa McCarthy if she used Ozempic to lose weight on Instagram, sparking a backlash from fans.

On Monday, McCarthy posted a photo on Instagram of herself and director Adam Shankman at the Center Theatre Group's 2024 Gala in Los Angeles, where McCarthy's friend, Matthew Bourne, was made an artistic honoree.

While many fans praised the pastel green outfit McCarthy wore at the event, Streisand made a surprising remark about her weight loss. McCarthy's weight has fluctuated over the years. In 2018 she told Life & Style that she lost 75 pounds by consistently exercising and eating a high-protein and low-carb diet. "It may be the best thing I've ever done," she said at the time. 

In a now-deleted comment, Streisand wrote: "Give him my regards did you take Ozempic?"

Fans were shocked that Streisand was so direct in questioning McCarthy, largely because the actor's Instagram post was not about weight.

Some users suggested that Streisand probably intended to privately message McCarthy, and publicly commented by mistake.

Streisand addressed the remark on Tuesday in a statement posted to her X account and Instagram story.

"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," the statement read.

"She looked fantastic! I just wanted to pay her a compliment. I forgot the world is reading!" Streisand continued.

McCarthy has not addressed the original comment since it was deleted. Representatives for her and Streisand did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Business Insider sent prior to Streisand's public statement.

Ozempic has become a byword for a buzzy new class of drugs called GLP-1 agonists, which are used to manage conditions including obesity and diabetes. (Ozempic is actually prescribed for diabetes, and Wegovy for weight loss). Celebrities including Elon Musk, Amy Schumer, and Chelsea Handler have all been open about using such weight loss drugs to slim down.

The hype around the drugs that mimic the GLP-1 hormone, which tells the brain that the body is no longer hungry, has led to speculation about who in Hollywood uses them.

The drug even got a shoutout in Jimmy Kimmel's opening monologue at the 2023 Oscars. He joked: "Everybody looks so great. When I look around this room, I can't help but wonder 'Is Ozempic right for me?'"

The "Bridesmaids" star has not publicly commented on whether she has used Ozempic, but she has discussed her weight in numerous interviews. In 2023 she told People that she's happy with her current look.

"And somewhere in my 30s, I was like 'I'm okay with who I am.' And if someone wasn't thrilled with that, that's okay too," she explained. "At some point I was like, 'They're not all going to like you.' You have to learn that the hard way, but it's a good [lesson]."