White House

Star Says ‘Bad Moms' Casting Wasn't Sexist Or Ageist

As Bell pointed out her kids in the film are one, five and three, not preteens

Kristen Bell took to Twitter to answer a user who questioned if the plot in Bell’s latest comedy “Bad Moms” set a bad example by highlighting Hollywood sexism and ageism.

In the film Bell stars with Mila Kunis and Kathryn Hahn as one of three overworked and under-appreciated moms who, per the official synopsis, “are pushed beyond their limits and ditch their conventional responsibilities for a jolt of long overdue freedom, fun, and comedic self-indulgence.”

The user questioned whether it was appropriate for Bell, 36 and Kunis 33, both mothers to toddlers in real life, to play mothers of preteens in the film.

There’s just one problem. As Bell pointed out her kids in the film are one, five and three, not preteens and Kunis’ character had her children while in her 20s. Bell says the stars gave that aspect careful consideration while filming.

"I'm not saying it doesn't exist, it sure does," she said of sexism. "I just know we gave it a lot of thought and it doesn't apply here."

Still, the former 'Veronica Mars' star remains a strong advocate for gender equality in and outside of Hollywood.

In an essay on her medium account and shared by The White House leading up to the United State of Women Summit in June, Bell wrote about embracing the qualities often seen as “girly” and seeing them as assets.

“Every woman brings something to the table that only she can,” Bell wrote. “This ever-long journey toward equality demands that we, as females, actually embrace our inequalities and value them as superpowers.”

In 2014, Bell told the Huffington Post she hopes that Hollywood creates more roles for strong complex women like her mystery-solving alter ego Veronica Mars.

“I would like to see roles continued to be written with the depth that Veronica Mars is,” Bell said prior to the premiere of the Veronica Mars movie in 2014.

“Not just the girlfriend — but someone who is a dynamic, multi-dimensional character, just like the guy,” she continued.

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