Gabourey Sidibe told to quit Hollywood by Joan Cusack

Apr 27, 2012 8:28 AM by Sara McGinnis

Posted in Entertainment / Celebrity Gossip

Watch Out For "Image Conscious" Hollywood

Before being nominated for an Oscar, Gabourey Sidibe suffered a major letdown when meeting her idol, Joan Cusack. Rather than inspire, the veteran actress warned the newcomer to get out of town because of her weight!

Gabourey Sidibe

Gabourey Sidibe's favorite actress is -- or at least was -- Joan Cusack. Now the young star lists the veteran actress as the celebrity she was most disappointed by!

Appearing on Watch What Happens Live, Gabourey Sidibe detailed her insulting experience meeting Joan Cusack before she became famous for her Oscar-nominated role in Precious.

In the show's "Plead the Fifth" segment, host Andy Cohen asked the 28-year-old star of The Big C, "What celebrity were you most disappointed by when you finally met them?"

Replying, Gabourey Sidibe reluctantly revealed, "What celebrity was I disappointed by? Oh, and it's not in a mean way, because I know that she meant well. I met Joan Cusack, who is my favorite, favorite — I love her — but it was before I became [famous] or whatever."

The Precious actress continued, "I was at some industry party, and she says, 'Are you an actress?' And I said, 'Yeah!' And she says, 'Oh honey, you should really quit the business, it's so image-conscious.'"

"I think she really, really meant it in a good way… but I was like 'Oh, please don't tell me to quit my job!'"

Gabourey Sidibe shines under Oscar's spotlight >>

Well, shoot. Now we're disappointed in Joan Cusack, too! Even if she meant well, and perhaps there was a grain of truth to her statement, you don't have to lead with the balls-out truth within 30 seconds of meeting someone! Dream killer.

Good thing Gabourey Sidibe knew well enough not to listen. The actress will next be seen on film in Seven Psychopaths alongside Colin Farrell and Woody Harrelson, set to release late this year!

What do you think of Joan Cusack's comments to Gabourey Sidibe?

Image via WENN

Tags: celebrity weight loss gabourey sidibe joan cusack

Comments

Comments on "Gabourey Sidibe told to quit Hollywood by Joan Cusack"

I'm just curious as to why the people who think Gabber didn't deserve the award due to her lack of acting skills and not her weight, then references another BLACK woman gewho was overweight? Ijs.... Who cares about the weight of Actor or Actress as long as they can act! Shame on Joan Cusak for her thoughtless comment!

Have you ever looked at Joan cusacks mouth and face she's real lucky she made it in hollywood. So knowing she's not the typical beautiful Hollywood actress you would think she would be more encouraging.

Maybe she didn't mean it in a negative way, but why can't women just be supportive of one another? As some others here have already said - Joan Cusack is NOT pretty, so how did she "make it" in Hollywood? TALENT! Not everyone in Hollywood has to look perfect to be successful. Gabby is so very talented and Joan should not have said that to her without even seeing her act. Oprah Winfrey is one of the most successful entertainers and she has had a lot of weight issues. I'm so glad that Gabby didn't listen to Joan! You go, girl!!!

Wow! My 2 cents worth after reading all the comments, the idea of thinking Joan Cusack didn't mean anything negative...or that she was simply trying to "warn her"... just because Gabby is overweight, does not mean she is stupid or retarded,I am quite sure she knows the critisms ahead of her! Why not....YOU GO GIRL!! or WHO CARES WHAT OTHERS THINK... YOU DO WHAT YOU WANNA DO!! Hollywood is what it is... if Gabby has what it takes inside to face and deal with the stupidy out there... go for it!! When it comes to being "fat"... people gonna talk regardess,why not have fun and get paid??? Go for it Gabby,there are enough people in this world that WILL support you! Give props where props are due! ......

I think the comment by J Cusack was not meant to be cruel but was unfeeling. The problem is that Miss Sidibe is just not a very expressive actress. She is very limited in her facial expressions and in general quite stiff . For me she is the low point in the show.

Ok so as an obese woman I had to comment on here. I think someone commented on here and said,"Hollywood is image conscious as is our society" Well being a fat woman I have been reading a lot lately about what people really think of fat people, or fat women more so. And peoples comments shock me. Its like they look at us or myself like we are less human because we are fat. First of all I am not condemned to my bed, I can walk, shower, , just like the rest of you. I can even walk up a flight of stairs, yes I will get winded, and I know there are things that I physically cannot do as a really thin or fit person could, but my point is that in most cases i'm just like you and can do normal things. Now by her saying "oh honey you should just quit because they are body conscious" well that almost like saying just quit life too because people don't like to look at fat people. I'm sorry but that is just completely horrible and the truth is there are people who exist who do believe fat people should be killed. I just think that it is such a shame that in this day and age people still cannot open their minds and embrace people who are different. Yes their are a lot of us who are fighting for other women to embrace their bodies. I'm not saying that I don't need to loose weight, because if i'm being real with myself then yes I can stand to loose weight, but I sure as hell am NOT gonna stop living just because You don't like the way I look, ing grow up and deal with it. I fat but I still have passions and dreams and goals and I'm gonna live my life to the fullest no matter what shape i'm in. I could die in a car accident tomorrow and if I had waited to live my life because I'm fat, then that would be a real shame. Life is short and regardless of my weight I'm gonna live it NOW.

Joan Cusack has an acting career but not because of her looks. She's not one of the pretty ones in Hollywood. All I know she must have some ties somewhere from her brother John or family. Gabourey has every right to follow her dreams and she did and that was good for her. Congratulation.

So wrong! Everyone's prone to putting their foot in their mouths sometimes. Maybe Joan Cusack just had a bad case of verbal diarrhea.

It is true what Joan Cusack said. In Hollywood and the world itself, we live in a image-conscious society. We focus on looks instead of talents. For Gabourey, someone was smart enough to see the talet she had and for that the world is blessed.

I don't think it's that big of a deal that someone shared an honest opinion with her that she didn't like to hear, or even agree with. Too many people do not have the nerve to say what is on their mind. Haven't we all been given advice that we don't agree with? As for her acting ability, I believe that if the academy gives a nomination to a first-time actor/actress, it should be a ground breaking performance, and in this case it was not. The academy does not have a set criteria for nominations or awards, and sometimes I think they give nominations to the "flavor of the week", this seems to be the case here, in my opinion. I think people focus too much on the weight issue, this actress is not that talented. Just my opinion, and yes, Cusack made the comment before she had seen Sibide's work, apparently it was based solely on the actresses size, and that seems to me a separate issue than I am addressing. I felt the same way about Jennifer Hudson's oscar, I doubt she would have won it if not for her American Idol fame...

If hollywierd is all so image conscious how come Joan Cusack is able to get work...Can we say fugly

I am so sorry that someone like Ms. Cusack would say that to her. Ms Sidibe has obvioulsy proven her very wrong. Ms. Cusack is a very good actress and I have (past tense) been a big fan. But, if what she said was true, how come she has made it as an actress. Ms. Cusack is in no way an attractive woman.

no offense to Ms. Cusack....but she is not the typical Hollywood prototype either.......I wish Miss Sidibe would have responded with a good ole southern "Well Bless your Heart"

I think that Joan Cusack did not mean what she said in a negative way. I think she was just trying to warn Gabourey how hard hollywood is/has been on overweight/obese women in the past. But I don't think that Joan should have tried to discourage Gabourey from pursueing her dreams either. It was an unkind statement to make because actors come in all colors, sizes, genders and backgrounds and their is a place for everyone if they can make it. The good thing about this is I think Gabourey has already proven her wrong....so Joan just motivated Gabby to go for it even harder. No one should tell another person to quit trying to better themselves or pursue what they want to do with their life as long as it's not illegal or immoral or deliberately intended to hurt someone. Gabby has this bigger than life personality and she doesn't let anyone stop her and I admire that quality about her regardless of her weight.