Bridesmaids star responds after being only member of cast not at Oscars reunion

Real Bridesmaids fans will have noticed that Wendi McLendon-Covey wasn’t part of the Oscars reunion.

Kristen Wiig, Melissa McCarthy, Rose Byrne, Maya Rudolph, and Ellie Kemper took to the stage last night (15 March) to mark the 15th anniversary of Paul Feig’s comedy flick.

The group presented the original score and sound awards at the Dolby Theatre which went to Ludwig Goransson for Sinners, and F1, respectively.

Wiig kicked things off by saying: "We are so happy to all be here together tonight."

Joking about the film’s milestone, she added: "I cannot believe that it’s been 15 years. Now we are not good with numbers, but we figured out backstage that means we shot this movie in 1883."

The cast members then shared 'letters' from other actors, as Rudolph said: "Oh, this is strange. Well, mine says, 'First of all, you ladies look extremely beautiful tonight.' Thank you. 'You’re aging well.' Signed, Stellan Skarsgård."

McCarthy then shared another 'note': "I have to say, mine is almost impossible to read.

"The handwriting is really pretty terrible. Says, ‘Hi, I’m with Stellan Skarsgård, writing my own separate note. I also agree you ladies look radiant. All the things you’ve done to your faces are very tasteful. Yours truly, Elle Fanning’.

"Wait, wait, there’s more. It says, ‘Just kidding. It’s me again, Stellan Skarsgård’."

Wiig shared another message: "You guys have been talking for a long time. This bit could have been a lot shorter.

"This is really going on and on. You aren’t even talking about score. That’s all. Love ya lots, Benicio Del Toro. Or for those of you who refuse to learn Spanish, it’s Benedict of the Bull."

The skit went down a storm, but one person was missing. McLendon-Covey, who played Lillian's cousin Rita in Bridesmaids, has explained what she wasn't there in a very 'honest' post on social media.

She said she posted on Instagram 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,” McLendon-Covey wrote alongside a picture of her lying down with a bandage around her head.

“So I had to skip the Academy Awards. No drama. Everything is fine.”

Fans respected how straight-forward she was.

"The honesty is refreshing. Most celebrities would’ve blamed a scheduling conflict," one person commented.

"Only Wendi McLendon-Covey could explain missing the Oscars like this. Love the honesty," another added.

"Wendi keeping it real, neck lift over Oscars, zero regrets. Queen behaviour," a third penned.

On the night,

Bridesmaids was nominated for best original screenplay in 2011, while McCarthy earned her first Academy nomination for best supporting actress.

Oscars 2026 winners

Best Picture

• Bugonia
• Frankenstein
• F1
• Hamnet
• Marty Supreme
• One Battle After Another - WINNER
• The Secret Agent
• Sentimental Value
• Sinners
• Train Dreams

Best Actor

• Timothée Chalamet - Marty Supreme
• Leonardo DiCaprio - One Battle After Another
• Ethan Hawke - Blue Moon
• Michael B Jordan - Sinners - WINNER
• Wagner Moura - The Secret Agent

Best Actress

• Jessie Buckley - Hamnet- WINNER
• Rose Byrne - If I Had Legs I'd Kick You
• Kate Hudson - Song Sung Blue
• Renate Reinsve - Sentimental Value
• Emma Stone - Bugonia

Best Supporting Actress

• Elle Fanning - Sentimental Value
• Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas - Sentimental Value
• Amy Madigan - Weapons - WINNER
• Wunmi Mosaku - Sinners
• Teyana Taylor - One Battle After Another

Best Supporting Actor

• Benicio del Toro - One Battle After Another
• Jacob Elordi - Frankenstein
• Delroy Lindo - Sinners
• Sean Penn - One Battle After Another - WINNER
• Stellan Skarsgård - Sentimental Value

Best Director

• Paul Thomas Anderson - One Battle After Another - WINNER
• Ryan Coogler - Sinners
• Josh Safdie - Marty Supreme
• Joachim Trier - Sentimental Value
• Chloé Zhao - Hamnet

Best Adapted Screenplay

• Bugonia
• Frankenstein
• Hamnet
• One Battle After Another - WINNER
• Train Dreams

Best Original Screenplay

• Blue Moon
• It Was Just an Accident
• Marty Supreme
• Sentimental Value
• Sinners - WINNER

Best Original Song

• 'Dear Me' - Diane Warren: Relentless
• 'Golden' - KPop Demon Hunters - WINNER
• 'I Lied to You' - Sinners
• 'Sweet Dreams of Joy' - Viva Verdi!
• 'Train Dreams' - Train Dreams