Melissa McCarthy has reinvented herself plenty of times over the years, but her appearance at the Golden Globe Awards in January 2026 stopped people cold. One red carpet walk, one sleek black gown, and suddenly the conversation was everywhere.
With her hair pulled tightly back, McCarthy’s face was fully on display — and noticeably slimmer. The weight loss was hard to miss, but what really caught attention were the changes in her features. More pronounced cheekbones. Eyes that appeared larger. A sharper overall contour that had social media users throwing around a phrase that’s become unavoidable in Hollywood lately.
Side-by-side comparisons with photos from March 2024 spread quickly. The difference wasn’t extreme, but it was clear enough for fans to react instantly. Some were disappointed, others supportive. “Of all the post-Ozempic celebrities, Melissa McCarthy bums me out the most,” one user wrote on X. Another countered just as loudly: “Melissa McCarthy looking good ok Ozempic queen.”
McCarthy herself hasn’t confirmed using Ozempic or any similar medication, and she hasn’t offered explanations for her changing appearance. What she has done — consistently — is push back against body judgment. Years ago, she made her stance crystal clear on Instagram, writing that women shouldn’t be categorized or evaluated based on their bodies. That message hasn’t changed, even if her appearance has.
The speculation reached another level in April 2024 when Barbra Streisand unexpectedly inserted herself into the conversation. Commenting on an Instagram post featuring McCarthy and director Adam Shankman, Streisand bluntly asked whether McCarthy had taken Ozempic. The comment was quickly deleted, but not before screenshots took over the internet.
The reaction was immediate. Some brushed it off as a generational slip, others found it awkward and invasive. Streisand later apologized publicly, explaining that she meant it as a compliment and hadn’t realized the comment would be so visible. McCarthy, for her part, responded with grace, telling a photographer that she considers Streisand a treasure and holds no hard feelings.
Still, the moment put an uncomfortable spotlight back on McCarthy’s body — something she’s spent years pushing against. Whether the change came from lifestyle shifts, time, or something else entirely, she’s clearly not interested in turning her face into a public case study.
What remains undeniable is this: one red carpet appearance was enough to dominate the conversation, proving once again that in Hollywood, even a quiet transformation never stays quiet for long.
