Doug Ellin, the creator of the HBO series "Entourage," has publicly disputed claims made by actress Debi Mazar that the show's set was "toxic" and that she was subjected to negative comments about her body after giving birth. Ellin took to X, formerly Twitter, to call Mazar's statements "disgusting."
"Never, ever did myself or anyone that matters care or discuss Debi Mazar’s body," Ellin wrote. "I would one million percent embrace any woman who got pregnant." He added that the only cast members whose physiques he commented on were series star Adrian Grenier, for whom he "wanted him more muscular," and Jerry Ferrara, for whom he "wanted fatter."
Ellin expressed regret over his comments to Ferrara, stating, "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."
Mazar, who portrayed publicist Shauna Roberts throughout the show's eight-season run from 2004 to 2011 and reprised her role in the 2015 film, told The Sunday Times that the on-set environment became "toxic" after she gained weight following the birth of her second child. She described the set as a "testosterone-fueled environment" that became difficult for her towards the end of the series.
Mazar alleged that after returning from maternity leave, some colleagues "didn’t like that I got fat, even though I got skinny again." While she did not name specific individuals, she stated that her outspoken nature led to complications, though she maintained her professionalism and gratitude for the role.
She also described the set as "misogynistic" in a 2024 interview with Entertainment Weekly, noting that while creator Doug Ellin wrote a strong character, the overall atmosphere was heavily male-dominated.
"Entourage" centered on the fictional career of rising young actor Vincent Chase (Adrian Grenier) and his childhood friends from Queens as they navigate Hollywood. Jerry Ferrara played Turtle, one of Chase's friends.
Ferrara has previously spoken about his weight loss journey, detailing a lifestyle change after a doctor advised him of potential health risks associated with his weight. He described becoming "devoted" to working out and slimmed down significantly.
The show, which ran from 2004 to 2011, was loosely based on the early career experiences of executive producer Mark Wahlberg. Wahlberg has famously remained tight-lipped about which aspects of the show were drawn from his life.