Funny woman Melissa McCarthy was recently named one of Elle magazine’s top 2013 “Women in Hollywood,” and was put on their cover. This sounds impressive for a plus-size actress who has had a lot to overcome to make it in Hollywood, right?

Wrong. Even though McCarthy describes the experience as “amazing,” she and Elle have experienced a tremendous amount of backlash over the magazine cover. McCarthy is featured wearing a coat on the cover while the other women who graced the cover of this issue (there were multiple covers), such as Penelope Cruz and Reese Witherspoon, were wearing “sexier” pieces. Some folks are outraged with the clothing difference and think that Elle “hid McCarthy under an oversize coat.”

Check out Melissa McCarthy’s Elle cover:

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The cover was torn apart (figuratively) in an essay by Slate’s June Thomas. “This year, Elle‘s token plus-size cover girl is McCarthy, who was photographed in a Marina Rinaldi coat so huge that she could hide her Mike and Molly co-star Billy Gardel underneath,” wrote Thomas. “McCarthy’s hair covers a quarter of her gorgeous face, and with her hands stuffed deep into her coat pockets, the only visible flesh is a tiny triangle between the coat’s lapels and the briefest glimpse of calf. Perhaps photographer Thomas Whiteside only knows how to photograph the usual stick insect models, because he clearly has no clue how to highlight McCarthy’s curves.”

McCarthy felt honored to make the cover of Elle and has no problem with what she was wearing. “[Elle is] a magazine I grew up with and I hadn’t done anything quite like that,” she said. “I was nervous… It was kind of amazing.”

Elle’s official statement on the issue: “On all of our shoots, our stylists work with the stars to choose pieces they feel good in, and this is no different: Melissa loved this look, and is gorgeous on our cover. We are thrilled to honor her as one of our Women in Hollywood this year.”

Considering McCarthy doesn’t have a problem with it–and she is known for speaking her mind when someone tries to shame her for her body size–it seems like the outrage is much ado about nothing.

Check out two of the other Elle magazine covers for the 2013 “Women in Hollywood” edition below. Do you think there is a problem with what Melissa McCarthy is wearing compared to the other women? Respond below.

Reese Witherspoon

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Shailene Woodley

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Images via Elle