The 2024 film adaptation of the Mean Girls musical has made a significant change to its digital release after the original star of the 2004 movie, Lindsay Lohan, expressed her disappointment over a joke that targeted her.

The Joke That Hurt Lindsay Lohan

The joke in question was delivered by rapper Megan Thee Stallion, who made a cameo appearance in the film as herself. In the theatrical version of the movie, Megan commented on a viral video of the Plastics performing at the Winter Talent Show, which featured Angourie Rice as Cady Heron, the role that Lohan played in the original film. Rice, like Lohan, is also a redhead in the movie.

Megan said in the film, “OK, so somebody sent me this look and I was like, ‘Hot girls, we are going back red, Y2K fire crotch is back.’” The term “fire crotch” is a derogatory slang for people with red pubic hair, and it was famously used to insult Lohan by socialite Brandon Davis in a 2006 paparazzi video. Davis, who was accompanied by Paris Hilton and her sister Nicky, also called Lohan’s vagina “stinky” and “orange” in the video, which sparked a feud between the early 2000s icons.

Lohan, who made a cameo in the 2024 film as the moderator of Cady’s mathletes competition, was reportedly “very hurt and disappointed” by the joke, which she heard for the first time at the New York City premiere of the film in January. A representative for Lohan told PEOPLE that she was “surprised and taken aback” by the reference, and that she was not informed about it by screenwriter Tina Fey, who is a longtime friend of Lohan and the creator of both the 2004 and 2024 films.

The Change That Was Made on Mean Girls

Fans who watched the digital version of the movie, which was released on February 22, noticed that the joke was removed from the film. Megan’s cameo now ends with her saying, “We are going back red,” and cuts out the “fire crotch” remark. It is unclear whether the change was made by Fey or the studio, or whether Lohan requested it. Neither Fey nor Lohan have publicly addressed the issue.

The removal of the joke is one of the many changes that Fey made to the 2024 film, which is based on the Broadway musical that she also wrote. Fey told The New York Times that she updated some of the jokes from the 2004 film that had aged badly, and that she wanted to reflect the current culture and technology of the Gen Z generation. She also added new songs and characters to the film, which stars Renee Rapp as Regina George, Bebe Wood as Gretchen Wieners, and Avantika as Janis Ian.

The Reaction From Fans

The reaction from fans to the joke and its removal has been mixed. Some fans praised the decision to edit out the joke, saying that it was insensitive and unnecessary, and that it showed respect for Lohan and her legacy. Others criticized the move, saying that it was hypocritical and censorious, and that it contradicted the spirit of the film, which is a satire of high school cliques and stereotypes.

One fan wrote on X (formerly Twitter), “I’m glad they removed the fire crotch joke from Mean Girls. It was rude and hurtful to Lindsay Lohan, who is an icon and a legend. She deserves better.” Another fan commented, “Why did they remove the fire crotch joke from Mean Girls? It was hilarious and Megan Thee Stallion killed it. It’s a comedy, not a documentary. Stop being so sensitive and grow up.”

What do you think of the joke and its removal? Do you agree or disagree with the decision? Let us know in the comments below. And don’t forget to watch Mean Girls, now available on digital platforms.