Oscars 2026: Wendi McLendon-Covey had a good reason to skip iconic ‘Bridesmaids’ reunion: ‘I had a neck…’
The 98th Academy Awards made audiences nostalgic after the cast of 'Bridesmaids' took to the stage to present the awards for 'Best Original Score' and 'Best Sound.' The film's all-female cast members, Melissa McCarthy, Maya Rudolph, Kristen Wiig, Ellie Kemper, and Rose Byrne, reunited to entertain audiences with their signature humor.
However, the ensemble cast missed Wendi McLendon-Covey, whose absence from the line-up fueled speculations that she may not be on good terms with her co-stars from the 2011 comedy.
But the 56-year-old actress swiftly squashed any rumors, telling her Instagram followers she could not attend the award ceremony due to a cosmetic procedure. "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." She assured fans that there's 'no drama' between the female stars and that "Everything is fine," her post read.
McLendon-Covey starred as Rita, the bride's cousin, Lillian (played by Maya Rudolph), in 'Bridesmaids.' Rita is part of the chaotic group of bridesmaids whose attempts at throwing a beautiful pre-wedding party end up with disastrous results. The raunchy comedy film was directed by Paul Feig and was co-written by Annie Mumolo and its lead star, Wiig. Produced by Judd Apatow, the film became a massive box-office hit, earning $306.5 million worldwide on a $32.5 million budget.
Moreover, the movie was praised by critics and paved the way for female adult comedies like Amy Schumer's 'Trainwreck' and 'Girls Trip.' Renowned publications such as The Hollywood Reporter and Variety consider the movie among the best comedy films of the 21st century.
Following the success of 'Bridesmaids,' McLendon-Covey landed a leading role in the ABC sitcom, 'The Goldbergs.' She played the family matriarch, Beverly Goldberg, alongside Jeff Garlin, Sean Giambrone, Hayley Orrantia, and Troy Gentile for 10 seasons from 2013 to 2023.
Her most recent television role was in the NBC sitcom 'St. Denis Medical,' where she played the role of Joyce Henderson for two seasons. The workplace comedy was renewed for a third season in February. Her film roles include 'What to Expect When You're Expecting,' 'Think Like a Man Too,' 'The Single Moms Club,' 'Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween,' and 'Hello, My Name Is Doris,' among others.
In addition to presenting at the 2026 Oscars, Byrne was also nominated for 'Best Actress' for her portrayal of Linda, a troubled mother, in the psychological drama, 'If I Had Legs I'd Kick You.' But the Australian actress lost out to Jessie Buckley for her role of Agnes Shakespeare in 'Hamlet.'
