Ozempic chronicles: Melissa McCarthy brushes off Barbra Streisand's now-deleted comment

Melissa McCarthy is unfazed by Barbra Streisand's recent inquiry about whether she's using the weight-loss drug Ozempic.

 "I think Barbra is a treasure and I love her," McCarthy told TMZ on Tuesday, April 30th.  The actress dismissed any suggestion of offence, simply saying, "Oh, please," when asked if Streisand's comment was out of line.

The exchange began when Streisand commented on McCarthy's Instagram post, seemingly alluding to the actress's recent weight loss. Streisand's comment was quickly deleted, leading to speculation about whether it was meant as a private message.

The following day, Streisand took to Instagram Stories to clarify her intentions.  "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."

The Ozempic question has sparked a wider conversation about the drug's use in Hollywood. Originally developed for diabetes management, Ozempic, and similar drugs, have become popular for weight loss, despite doctors' cautions about using them for this purpose.

McCarthy has openly discussed her fluctuating weight throughout her career.  "I’ve been every size in the world," she toldMore magazine in 2013.  

Now, the actress emphasises self-love and acceptance, focusing on her family and career rather than society's beauty standards.