Tina Fey gets a defensive reaction from her ‘Mean Girls’ co-star!

The 2024 Mean Girls remake faced a torrent of criticism since the trailer dropped in November 2023. Now that it finally hit theaters last month, it hasn’t fared very well.

The new Mean Girls movie is a musical remake, not just a regular one. It’s based on the 2018 Broadway musical, which itself was based on the 2004 film. The movie introduces a new generation of the Plastics to audiences.

Mean Girls

Although the remake failed to capture the original essence of the first flick—Tina Fey strived to make this adaptation of Mean Girls fun, by bringing beloved characters to the screen with a whole new generation.

The Sisters’ star is one of the influential female voices in the industry. With her quirky, comic-genius glory and wit, it’s no wonder why many love her.

That’s why even Auliʻi Cravalho stepped forward to defend her and had something to say to Mean Girls detractors. She warned them not to criticize Fey’s ability to handle criticism.

Auliʻi Cravalho Backs Tina Fey Over Her Remarks 

During the EW and PEOPLE’s 2024 SAG Awards red carpet show on Saturday, Auliʻi Cravalho—who portrays Janis in the 2024 musical comedy film—discussed Fey’s remarks about the TikTok users who criticized the new version of Mean Girls.

Auliʻi Cravalho as Janis Sarkisian in Mean Girls (2024)

When asked whether she had heard Fey’s comments, the 23-year-old replied, “Mother! No, what did she say?” The interviewer said, “She just had… choice words and said back off.” To this, the Moana’s voice actor said (via Entertainment Weekly):

“I love her and I appreciate that she gave us such wonderful bones. Everything about it is iconic still like 20 years later. Don’t come for Tina Fey. She’ll come right back at you.”

Earlier this month, Fey defended the film by responding to critics. She talked about the song Revenge Party and how it differed from the Broadway version.

Tina Fey Unfazed by Mean Girls Remake Criticism

Tina Fey in as Ms. Norbury in a still from Mean Girls (2024)

During the I Don’t Think So, Honey segment of segment of Bowen Yang and Matt Rogers’ Las Culturistas podcast, Tina Fey  criticized TikTok users who complained about changes in the new Mean Girls film. She went on to say:

“Little Broadway c–ts on TikTok [are] complaining about two lines of ‘Revenge Party’ when I bring you f—ing Reneé Rapp, I bring you Auli’i Cravalho, Jaquel Spivey. This is why we can’t have nice things.”

The former Saturday Night Live member was talking about TikTok users who were upset that some lyrics from the Broadway musical songs were changed for the new film.

Some viewers didn’t like the movie’s version of the song Revenge Party, while others noticed small lyric changes in the song S*xy. But Fey seemed clearly unbothered by the criticism.

The 53-year-old wrote the script for the remake and also played math teacher Ms. Norbury again. Now, she will now weather a new comedy series adaptation of the 1981 rom-com The Four Seasons.

Watch Mean Girls 2024 on Amazon Prime Video.