Melissa McCarthy has snapped back at the Ghostbusters haters, saying she hopes they “find a friend”.

The Bridesmaids actress stars in the all-female follow-up to the classic 1984 film – alongside Kristen Wiig, Kate McKinnon and Leslie Jones – which has faced a backlash from fans who apparently don’t want women carrying proton packs.

The cast of Ghostbusters  at an event in the US
The cast of Ghostbusters (Chris Pizzello/AP/PA)

The first trailer to be unveiled has become the most disliked in YouTube history.

Melissa told The Guardian: “All those comments – ‘You’re ruining my childhood!’ I mean, really. Four women doing any movie on earth will destroy your childhood?”

The actress, who has two children with her husband Ben Falcone, went on: “I have a visual of those people not having a Ben, not having friends, so they’re just sitting there and spewing hate into this fake world of the internet.

“I just hope they find a friend.”

Ghostbusters will be released in UK cinemas on July 15.