Entourage creator and showrunner Doug Ellin has denied a claim by actress Debi Mazar that she was fat-shamed on the set of the HBO series after giving birth in 2006, calling the allegation "disgusting" in a post on X on Sept. 1.
"My thoughts are this is disgusting," Ellin wrote. "Never, ever did myself or anyone that matters care or discuss Debi Mazar's body." He added, "I would one million percent embrace any woman who got pregnant."
Mazar's Original Claims
The dispute began after Mazar told The Times U.K. on Aug. 29 that the mood on set shifted after her second pregnancy. "Season one was a joy-fest. But in the third season, the set was a testosterone-fueled environment," she said. "I'm tough, but it got toxic towards the end for me."
"I'd had my second baby and they didn't like that I got fat, even though I got skinny again," Mazar continued. "It was complicated because I'm outspoken and never held back my discontent. But I always was professional and I'm grateful I was on it." Looking back on the job overall, she said, "It was a lot of fun, until it wasn't."
Ellin on Ferrara and Grenier
While Ellin denied Mazar's account of her own experience, he acknowledged commenting on the bodies of two of her male co-stars, Adrian Grenier and Jerry Ferrara. "The only bodies on the show I ever commented on were Adrian's (I wanted him more muscular) and @jerryferrara who I wanted fatter," Ellin wrote. "I will forever feel bad about that because I didn't realize the health implications at the time and now couldn't be happier for Jerry's transformation."
Ferrara, who played Turtle on the show, has previously spoken about losing a significant amount of weight after the show's sixth season, when he weighed 200 pounds despite standing 5-foot-7.
Mazar's Time on Entourage
Mazar appeared in Entourage throughout its full run, from 2004 to 2011. She is also known for roles in Batman Forever and Younger. She has two daughters, Evelina, 24, and Giulia, 20, with chef Gabriele Corcos.
Hollywood Speaks Out on Body Image
The report on Mazar and Ellin ran alongside a wider roundup of celebrities who have spoken about body positivity over the years.
- Chrissy Teigen said she has come to terms with changes in her body after having children: "I see my body, I see the difference in shape, I see that I gained weight. But I also see... I am very happy."
- Jonah Hill responded to paparazzi photos of himself surfing in February 2021, writing that public mockery of his body had exacerbated childhood insecurities but that at 37 he had "finally learned to love and accept myself." In August 2021 he debuted a tattoo reading "Body Love."
- Demi Lovato wrote on Instagram in 2018, "Stretch marks and extra fat...And yet I still love myself. Cellulite...and yet I still love myself." She later told E! News she wanted to show fans that Instagram images aren't always real. In December 2020 she posted photos of her stretch marks outlined in glitter.
- Cindy Crawford joked, "Even I don't wake up looking like Cindy Crawford."
- Kate Winslet said she tells her daughter Mia she is proud of her body because "a positive physical outlook has to start at an early age."
- Mindy Kaling wrote, "WEAR A BIKINI IF YOU WANT TO WEAR A BIKINI. You don't have to be a size 0."
- Gabourey Sidibe said her confidence came from deciding she was beautiful and living accordingly.
- Lena Dunham said she has walked red carpets in couture as a size 14 and doesn't care what others think of her body.
- Emma Stone said keeping weight on is a struggle, especially under stress, and that she reminds herself to be kind to herself.
- Meryl Streep advised young women not to worry so much about their weight, saying what makes people different is their strength.
- Viola Davis said she embraced her natural size and hue at 51 while playing Annalise Keating.
- Lizzo pushed back on being called "brave" for her body, saying there is a double standard for women.
- Zendaya clapped back in 2016 after being accused of being a "thinspo model" and called out a magazine for photoshopping her image.
- Jennifer Lawrence said she refuses to diet, asking, "What are you going to do? Be hungry every single day to make other people happy?"
- Serena Williams said she is proud to be "a full woman" who is strong and powerful.
- Isla Fisher said she doesn't own a scale so her two daughters don't see her weighing herself constantly.
- Amy Adams said pregnancy taught her that her body wasn't meant to look good in a swimsuit.
- Camila Mendes described a conversation with a naturopath that helped her let go of an obsession with dieting.
- Lady Gaga said she is proud of her body after chatter about her Super Bowl appearance.
- Sam Smith said they decided to "fight the f--k back" after years of starving themselves before photo shoots.
- Ashley Graham said her words to herself in the mirror carry power, even about an "awkward butt shape."
