Melissa McCarthy Opens Up About a Toxic Workplace That Took a Toll on Her Health
Melissa McCarthy’s Transformation: From a Toxic Set to Building a Healthy Production Company
In an interview with The Guardian, Melissa McCarthy, renowned for her role in “Bridesmaids,” shared a challenging experience from an unnamed project that compelled her to embark on a new journey. The toxic environment on this particular set was so overwhelming that it took a toll on her physical health, motivating her and her husband, Ben Falcone, to establish their own production company.
Recalling the distressing ordeal, McCarthy revealed, “I did work for someone once who ran such a volatile, hostile set that it made me physically ill.” The negative atmosphere had such an impact that she experienced swollen eyes, overwhelmed by all the chaos around her.
The actress refrained from disclosing the name of the production but disclosed the emotional turmoil it caused. “There were people weeping, visibly so upset by this one person,” she explained. The manipulative tactics employed by this individual kept her subdued, as they threatened to dismiss people she cared about, leaving her feeling powerless and silenced.
This experience prompted McCarthy and Falcone to adopt a different approach in their own company. When hiring employees, they conduct a “crazy check” to ensure a healthy and supportive environment. “We have to build the one we’ve always talked about, where everybody gets to have an opinion, and everyone is really nice,” McCarthy said, expressing their determination to create a workspace where creativity can flourish, and people can feel valued and heard.
Today, Melissa McCarthy stars in “The Little Mermaid,” set to hit theaters on May 26, marking a significant milestone in her career journey from navigating a toxic environment to fostering a positive and inclusive workplace culture.
