Wendi McLendon-Covey was quick to clear up why she didn’t join her Bridesmaids co-stars for the onstage reunion at the Oscars Sunday night.
The 15th anniversary of Paul Feig’s hit 2011 comedy was celebrated by Kristen Wiig, Melissa McCarthy, Rose Byrne, Maya Rudolph, and Ellie Kemper as they presented two awards at the Dolby Theatre: original score and sound, which went to Ludwig Goransson for Sinners, andF1, respectively.
Of course, the women had a little fun before the Oscars were announced —each of them was handed a note and claimed it was signed by A-list audience members like Leonardo DiCaprio or Stellan Skarsgard, remarking on their good looks and critiquing the length of the bit.
Fans were quick to notice McLendon-Covey, who played Rita in Bridesmaids, hadn’t joined them. She posted on Instagram after the show in “response to some of the dms [sic] I’m getting.”
“I had a neck lift last week because I’m tired of looking like a melting candle,” wrote the actress, also known for roles in St. Denis Medical and The Goldbergs, about not joining the ensemble. “So I had to skip the Academy Awards. No drama. Everything is fine.” The post showed her lying down with a bandage wrapped around her head and under her chin.
Her St. Denis Medical co-star Allison Tolman was among the supporters in McLendon-Covey’s comments: “Congratulations queen, I cannot WAIT to see her. (Your neck),” she wrote. Comedian-actress Heather McMahan said: “We love to see our queen relaxing!”
Bridesmaids, produced by Judd Apatow, redefined the female comedy genre and went on to gross over $300 million worldwide. At the 2012 Academy Awards, McCarthy was nominated for best supporting actress, while Wiig and Annie Mumolo were up for best original screenplay.
This year, Byrne was nominated in the best actress category for her performance in If I Had Legs I’d Kick You, but the Oscar unsurprisingly went to Jessie Buckley in Hamnet‘s only win of the evening.
The 2026 Oscars were ruled by Paul Thomas Anderson and One Battle After Another, with Ryan Coogler and Sinners following closely behind.
Take a look at the full winners’ list.