Doug Ellin, the creator of the HBO series "Entourage," has strongly refuted claims made by actress Debi Mazar that the show's set was a "toxic" environment, particularly toward the end of its run. Mazar, who played publicist Shauna Roberts, recently told The Sunday Times that the atmosphere became a "testosterone-fueled environment" and that executives "didn't like that [she] got fat" after the birth of her second child.
Ellin took to social media platform X to call Mazar's assertions "disgusting." He stated that he and anyone else associated with the show never discussed or cared about Mazar's body. "I would one million percent embrace any woman who got pregnant," Ellin wrote. He added that the only cast members whose bodies he commented on were Adrian Grenier, whom he wanted to be more muscular, and Jerry Ferrara, whom he wanted to be heavier, expressing regret for the latter due to health implications.
Responding to a user who sarcastically suggested the show was "toxic," Ellin countered, "Fu. It wasn’t. And you can ask 99 percent of the women who were on it, who are still good friends to this day." He further clarified in response to another user that Mazar was cast for her talent as a publicist, not for her looks, and that her weight was not a topic of concern.
Mazar's interview described the first season of "Entourage" as a "joy-fest" but indicated a shift in atmosphere by the third season. The 62-year-old actress stated that upon returning to work after her second daughter's birth, she felt judged about her appearance, despite having regained her previous physique. She concluded that while she remained professional and grateful for the experience, "It was a lot of fun, until it wasn’t."
"Entourage" aired on HBO for eight seasons from 2004 to 2011 and followed the career and personal life of a young actor and his childhood friends. Mazar reprised her role in the 2015 film adaptation of the series.