Wendi McClendon-Covey swiftly addressed the reason behind her absence from the on-stage reunion with her Bridesmaids co-stars at the Oscars on Sunday night. To celebrate the 15th anniversary of Paul Feig's 2011 hit comedy, Kristen Wiig, Melissa McCarthy, Rose Byrne, Maya Rudolph, and Ellie Kemper presented two awards at the Dolby Theater: original score and sound, which went to Ludwig Goransson for Sinners and F1, respectively.
Before the Oscars were announced, the women had a bit of fun by being handed notes that they claimed were signed by A-list audience members like Leonardo DiCaprio or Stellan Skarsgard, remarking on their good looks and critiquing the length of their bit. However, fans quickly noticed that McClendon-Covey, who played Rita in Bridesmaids, was not among them. She addressed this in an Instagram post after the show, responding to some of the messages she received.
"I had a neck lift last week because I'm tired of looking like a melting candle," wrote the actress, who is also known for her roles in St. Denis Medical and The Goldbergs. "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.
Allison Tolman, her co-star from St. Denis Medical, was among those who supported McClendon-Covey in the comments: "Congratulations queen, I cannot WAIT to see her. (Your neck)," she wrote. Comedian-actress Heather McMahan added: "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 dominated by Paul Thomas Anderson and One Battle After Another, with Ryan Coogler and Sinners following closely behind.
