Practical Magic star Lee Pace called out for 'derogatory' remarks about women in awkward Today show interview

Practical Magic 2 actor Lee Pace found himself in hot water after a very awkward TV interview.

The 47-year-old appeared on the Today show on Thursday to discuss his role in the upcoming sequel with host Craig Melvin.

Discussing the release, which stars Nicole Kidman and Sandra Bullock, Pace turned his attention towards the topic of powerful women.

'This movie, it's a movie about witches and it's given me the opportunity to think about… I guess if you remove the word "witch" from it, you think about powerful women,' Pace began. 

'You know, a woman who can cook you an incredible meal. You think, "God, it's chicken and lemon, but why does it taste like that? Is that some kind of magic power or...?"'

But a seemingly panicked Melvin, 47, was quick to interject. 

'Yeah, a lot of women, though, who heard you say that, the first superpower you mentioned was cooking,' he shared.

To which, the Pushing Daisies star responded: 'Well, I could mention lots of other… I mean, you're right. 

'You called me out for that, so thank you for that. Don't let me off the hook on that one, please, please.' 

Melvin explained that he did not want Pace to be targeted on social media for the comments, adding: 'I just wanted to give you the chance to amend the record.'

'Well, we don't want to talk about evil witches because there's a lot of people watching and we don't want to get an evil eye pointed at me,' Pace responded. 

'But yeah, there's lots of different powers that you can have.'

Despite the seeming backtrack, it did not go unnoticed by viewers, with many flooding to social media to hit out at his comments. 

'Thank you for calling out the derogatory "women cooking" comment Craig!' one wrote. 'I heard him say that and I about dropped my hand weight!' 

'I thought the interview got very awkward this morning,' another added.

'Not sure if Craig should have called him out or let it go.'

Others were less concerned by Pace's remarks and instead put it down to a case of poor phrasing.

'Witches brew stuff up though in potions, surely cooking is the closest real life thing to that. thats all i think he meant - brewing a potion is cooking,' one mused.

'I saw this and didn't take offense to it and got what he was trying to say,' another added.

Practical Magic 2 takes place 25 years after the original film and is adapted from Alice Hoffman's 2021 sequel story, The Book of Magic.

In the sequel, Bullock reprises her role as Sally Owens alongside Kidman as her sister Gillian, two witches attempting to live normal lives despite their family curse.

The film marks Bullock's first movie project in four years following her hiatus from acting.

It also brings back Stockard Channing and Dianne Wiest, who play Kidman and Bullock's eccentric aunts in the original movie.