Why Do People Hate Kristen Wiig?
Kristen Wiig is an American actress, comedian, writer and producer known for her work on Saturday Night Live, Bridesmaids, Ghostbusters and several other popular films and TV shows.
While she has many fans who enjoy her brand of comedy and acting talents, some people have expressed dislike or criticism towards Wiig over the years. This article will explore some of the potential reasons why the comedian and actress may rub certain viewers the wrong way at times.
Characters Can Be Polarizing
One of the most common criticisms directed at Wiig is that some of her popular SNL sketch characters and film roles can be fairly polarizing.
Her characters are often quirky, awkward or eccentric. For viewers who appreciate offbeat humor, these characters come across as hilarious. However, for those not as receptive to that style of comedy, the characters may seem grating or annoying.
A few examples of polarizing Wiig characters include:
- Target Lady – The exaggeratively enthusiastic Target cashier prone to oversharing awkward details about her personal life.
- Gilly – The mischievous troublemaking schoolgirl known for her snorting laugh and pranks.
- Aunt Linda – The passive-aggressive relative fixated on Will Ferrell’s character in the “Kissing Family” sketches.
- Annie Walker – Wiig’s character in Bridesmaids, who often communicated in rapid, intense outbursts.
While many found these characters hilarious, some viewers have described them as “obnoxious,” “over-the-top” or “unfunny.” Comedy is highly subjective, so Wiig’s brand of humor likely clicks more with certain audiences.
Been Accused of Overexposure
Wiig was a staple on SNL for seven seasons between 2005–2012. She not only acted in countless sketches but often played a major role in writing them too.
Plus, her initial success on SNL led to high-profile film roles in hits like Knocked Up, Ghost Town, Whip It and eventually Bridesmaids.
So for a while in the late 2000s/early 2010s, Wiig was very omnipresent in movies and TV. Some critics argued she was overexposed and that audiences were getting tired of seeing her.
The Ringer even dubbed this response “Wiig Fatigue,” comparing it to the similar “Jim Carrey Fatigue” that occurred when Carrey saturated the comedy film scene in the mid-90s at the height of his fame.
So while overexposure was not necessarily Wiig’s fault, it may have inadvertently contributed to dislike from audiences experiencing Wiig burnout.
She’s Perceived as a “One-Trick Pony”
Wiig built her career on oddball characters with awkward energy and jokes highlighting general weirdness. While it obviously resonated with many, some argue Wiig is too much of a “one-trick pony” by repeatedly going to this same comedic well of quirkiness and awkward humor.
Detractors say she lacks dynamic range as a comedic actress and relies too heavily on her own formula for characters rather than showing diversity.
Essentially, if someone does not appreciate Wiig’s brand of awkward humor to begin with, they may be inclined to criticize her perceived overreliance on variations of the same formula over time.
Ghostbusters Role Was Controversial
Wiig catching some dislike or backlash for Paul Feig’s 2016 all-female Ghostbusters reboot is admittedly unfair considering the film itself was divisive among fans well before its actual release.
But she and costars Leslie Jones, Kate McKinnon and Melissa McCarthy received ample criticism, harassment and cruel insults from very vocal, misogynistic online factions who apparently felt personally victimized by the film’s existence.
While the intensity of that largely unwarranted backlash was not Wiig’s fault, she still became at least partially attached to that negative discourse bubble surrounding the film.
So there is a small contingent of moviegoers who may retroactively dislike Wiig purely by association due to her affiliation with the 2016 Ghostbusters film they already detest so intensely.
Humor Can Miss Its Mark with Some Audiences
As mentioned regarding some Wiig character criticisms, comedy is highly subjective. So Wiig’s offbeat, awkward energy and punchlines simply does not align with what everyone finds funny or enjoyable.
Her rapid-fire improv skills, weird voices and facial expressions, and risk-taking willingness to commit completely to oddball characters undoubtedly works comedically with many audiences.
But there are also plenty examples over the years of Wiig characters, sketches and even movies that received criticism for “trying too hard” or having humor that missed its mark with reviewers and audiences.
Not every Wiig performance or project can be a universal slam dunk. So occasional duds with certain viewers or demographics leads to pockets of dislike.
Lacks a Defined Public Persona Outside Characters
Some hugely successful SNL alums like Tina Fey, Jimmy Fallon and Bill Hader have leveraged their sketch comedy success into beloved public personas completely embraced by mainstream pop culture.
Based on her continued acting career and individual memorable performances, Wiig certainly has her share of fans. But she has possibly not cultivated quite as much of a clearly defined overall public charisma outside of whatever oddball character she is inhabiting at the time.
So those who may dislike some of Wiig’s characters or comedic stylings don’t necessarily have as much affection for Wiig the person to help balance that out compared to some other SNL alums.
Without as glowing and definitive a public persona outside characters, detractors lack that counterbalance to outweigh dislikes related to certain Wiig performances that may miss the mark for them.
Table Summarizing Kristen Wiig Dislike Factors
| Factor | Description |
|---|---|
| Polarizing Characters | Quirky personas like Target Lady, Gilly, Aunt Linda, Annie in Bridesmaids rub some wrong way |
| Overexposure | High volume of SNL sketches plus film roles led to “Wiig Fatigue” |
| One-Trick Pony | Perceived reliance on same awkward comedic formula |
| 2016 Ghostbusters Backlash | Unfairly attached criticism and misogyny toward film |
| Subjective Humor | Offbeat style/punchlines simply don’t work for some |
| Ill-Defined Public Persona | Lacks glowing charisma outside characters to balance perceptions |
What Do Fans & Critics Say Directly?
Digging directly into critic and audience commentary over the years can provide additional anecdotal insight into the various factors contributing to Wiig dislike among detractors.
Critics on Polarizing Characters & Humor Missing the Mark
Several professional critics over the years took issue with Wiig’s character work and fluctuations in comedic success:
- “Wiig is still capable of hilarious profane weirdness…but other times her improvised oddities feel so random and strange they just come off as annoying.” – Salon
- “I tired of most of [her recurring characters]…because all they had was one song to sing.” – Entertainment Weekly
- “Wiig [failed] to find sufficient comic spin…[her] performance lacks the human specificity needed.” – Variety
Audience Feedback on Overexposure
Firsthand audience commentary also offers honest insight into overexposure contributing to Wiig fatigue:
- “Started out liking her, but Wiig was EVERYWHERE for a while there – got old fast!”
- “The less I see of her the more I like her, but SNL ran her characters into the ground.”
- “She’s okay but a little goes a long way – I can only handle so much!”
Ghostbusters-Driven Dislike
While the intensity of Ghostbusters backlash was often misplaced, some viewers still genuinely disliked Wiig’s performance independent of broader film issues:
- “I went in neutral but Wiig was super grating and trying too hard in that movie.”
- “Something about the coy, cutesy spin she put on her character just came off as so annoying…”
Underlying Tone of Sexism
Finally, some audience sentiment suggests occasional undercurrents of sexism may also subtly impact Wiig dislike:
- “I don’t know why but something about Kristen Wiig just annoys the hell out of me.”
- “I know I should like her more but she’s always just irritated me for some reason…”
Without necessarily even realizing it consciously, these audience comments may hint at a degree of gender bias unfairly impacting Wiig critiques.
