{"id":2382,"date":"2026-03-17T11:24:18","date_gmt":"2026-03-17T11:24:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thetab.com\/?p=593676"},"modified":"-0001-11-30T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"-0001-11-30T00:00:00","slug":"the-unexpected-reason-a-bridesmaids-star-wasnt-part-of-the-reunion-skit-at-the-oscars","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thetab.com\/filmshrine\/2026\/03\/17\/the-unexpected-reason-a-bridesmaids-star-wasnt-part-of-the-reunion-skit-at-the-oscars\/","title":{"rendered":"The unexpected reason a Bridesmaids star wasn’t part of the reunion skit at the Oscars"},"content":{"rendered":"

The stars of Bridesmaids reunited in a cheeky skit at the 2026 Oscars. One of the iconic leads wasn’t part of this, though – and the reason she gave is super unexpected.<\/p>\n

Rose Byrne, Ellie Kemper, Melissa McCarthy, Maya Rudolph and Kristen Wiig assembled on stage at the Oscars<\/a> to celebrate the 15th anniversary of the iconic rom-com. The group read out (fake) letters from other actors, and joked about “aging well” and how “all the things [they’ve] done to [their] faces are very tasteful”. The cast also presented the awards for Best Original Score to Ludwig Goransson for Sinners<\/a>, then Best Sound to F1.<\/p>\n

One key cast member was missing from this reunion, though. Wendi McLendon-Covey – who starred as Lilian’s sexually frustrated cousin Rita – wasn’t there.<\/p>\n

\"Ellie
Ellie Kemper as Becca and Wendi McLendon-Covey as Rita in Bridesmaids
(Image via Universal Pictures)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Wendi McLendon-Covey has detailed the reason why. She shared a picture to Instagram of her recovering from surgery. Ironically, she couldn’t be in the skit because of things she’s done to her face.<\/p>\n

She wrote: “In response to some of the DMs I’m getting: I had a neck lift last week because I’m tired of looking like a melting candle. So I had to skip the Academy Awards. No drama. Everything is fine.”<\/p>\n

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A post shared by Wendi McLendon-Covey (@wendimclendoncovey)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n