Paul Feig slams critics of Leslie Jones' 'Ghostbusters' role: 'Leave my cast alone'

NEW YORK, March 9 (UPI) -- Ghostbusters director Paul Feig has slammed critics of Leslie Jones' character in the upcoming reboot, telling users on social media to "grow up."

Feig stepped in Tuesday after Jones stated on Twitter that she was debating leaving the platform after facing harassment from users who saw her Ghostbusters character as a racist stereotype.

"I think today will be the day I get rid of Twitter," the actress wrote. "Gonna really be thinking on it. Not sure I want to need it anymore. Know what I mean?"

"Don't leave us, @Lesdoggg. You are a goddess & one of the warmest funniest forces of nature I know. [expletive] the haters," Feig wrote in response urging Jones not to delete her account.

"And haters, attack me all you want but when you attack and insult my cast, you've crossed the line. Grow up and leave my cast alone," he continued.

Jones has spent the past week since the launch of the first Ghostbusters trailer defending her role and talking with fans about why she doesn't view her character as a stereotype."Why can't a regular person be a ghostbuster. Im confused. And why can't i be the one who plays them i am a performer. Just go see the movie," she wrote on Friday.

"Regular People save the world everyday so if I'm the sterotype!! Then so be it!! We walk among Heroes and take them for granted," she continued. "Its not a man, woman, race, class thang!! Its a Ghostbuster thang!! And as far as I'm concerned we all Ghostbusters!! Stand tall!!"

On Wednesday, Sony Pictures released the International trailer for the action comedy which gave fans a closer look at Chris Hemsworth's receptionist role and a funny scene involving Jones attempting to crowd surf at a concert.

"The international trailer for #Ghostbusters is here. Watch it now, and see the film in theaters this summer," the official Twitter account of the film wrote alongside the trailer.

Ghostbusters starring Jones, Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig and Kate McKinnon opens in theaters July 15.