Fury as Gen Z viewers slam traditional romcom star for being ‘too ugly’

The beloved 1989 rom-com When Harry Met Sally has a cult following for a reason – but Gen Z viewers were not as taken by Billy Crystal’s character as their older counterparts.

A now-viral post to X, formerly known as Twitter, has sent longtime fans of the rom-com into a spin after it declared the film’s love interest Harry Burns – played by Crystal – is not good enough for Meg Ryan‘s character Sally Albright.

The debate began after X user Zoe Rose Bryant responded to a post asking users to share the ‘romcom (sic) scene that literally changed the trajectory of your life.’

In the reply, she shared the clip at the end of the film, when Harry rushed to a New Year’s Eve party that Sally was at to profess his love for her once and for all, delivering an emotional speech in which he listed all of the things that he adored about her. 

‘You simply can’t beat the blueprint,’ she declared.

While many have a soft spot for the ’80s film, one user has sparked a heated debate after admitting they couldn’t ‘get into’ the film due to differences in attractiveness. 

‘Could never get in to this because she’s SO much prettier than him and he looks like the concept of a guy,’ a second X user posted in response.

‘They’re calling Billy Crystal ugly. We have forgotten the ancient recipes,’ one user wrote in despair. 

Meg Ryan’s orgasm scene is one of the most famous in cinema history (above)

The beloved 1989 rom-com When Harry Met Sally has a cult following for a reason – but Gen Z viewers watching it are not taken by Billy Crystal’s character

‘I’m getting really upset about that tweet saying Billy Crystal isn’t attractive in When Harry Met Sally over and over please stop putting it on my timeline…,’ another argued.

‘He is beautiful and perfect,’ the user continued. ‘The little subtle head tilt after she says the last little i hate you is one of the most beautiful things in the world to me….. please stop being tasteless and cruel… thank you.’

‘Great script obviously but Billy Crystal really is off the charts charming here in a way that you cannot teach,’ one fan declared. 

‘Actually billy crystal is hot as hell in when harry met sally,’ someone else agreed. 

Others agreed that Crystal was ‘nothing special.’

‘The amount of people fighting you on this is crazy. A man WOULD NEVER say “but she’s charismatic” about an ugly woman. Please stop,’ another raged. 

‘We’re losing the recipe of meeting someone you think is either nothing special or unattractive and then as you get to know them they weirdly become magically the most attractive person you’ve ever seen. this s**t is crush 101,’ another reasoned. 

The movie followed two college acquaintances who disliked each other but were thrust back into each other’s lives after they coincidentally crossed paths at a bookstore 10 years later.

A now-viral post to X, formerly known as Twitter, has sent longtime fans of the rom-com into a spin after declaring Harry (Crystal) is not good enough for Meg Ryan’s character, Sally

The popular film was released in 1989 and has become a beloved movie

While many have a soft spot for the ’80s film, one user has sparked a heated debate after admitting they couldn’t ‘get into’ the film due to differences in attractiveness

While they initially tried to be friends, the two slowly start to fall for one another.

After a series of awkward intimate moments and an argument that nearly tore them apart, the movie concluded with the two walking down the aisle following Harry’s heartfelt New Year’s Eve speech – which is still being quoted even now, decades on.

Earlier in the year, the film’s director Rob Reiner, 76, spoke about the making of the film on CNN’s Who’s Talking to Chris Wallace – and he admitted that he actually had a much sadder conclusion planned for Harry and Sally. 

He told host Chris, 76, that his initial plans for the flick involved them not ending up together on New Year’s Eve.

Rob, who was married to actress Penny Marshall from 1971 until 1981, explained that because his own relationship had ended in divorce, he didn’t want to give the characters a happy ending.

But Rob added that his entire outlook changed after he met his current wife, Michele Singer, in the midst of making the film.

The two tied the knot in 1989, the same year the movie came out, and they’ve been together ever since.