The ‘Bridesmaids’ Oscars Reunion Was Missing One Key Cast Member — She Just Explained Why

The Oscars certainly know how to bring Hollywood celebrities together, and the 15th anniversary reunion of Bridesmaids did not disappoint.

It was convenient that star Rose Byrne was nominated for her role in If I Had Legs I’d Kick You, so why not bring the rest of the gang together? Byrne, Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph, Melissa McCarthy, and Ellie Kemper showed up in their designer duds, working their comedic chops along the way as they presented Best Original Score and Best Sound. But fans noticed one important cast member was missing on the Dolby Theatre stage.

Wendie McLendon-Covey, who played Rita in the 2011 film, was noticeably absent from the ceremony, so she took to Instagram to share the reason why. Wearing a bandage around her head, McLendon-Covey admitted to something very few celebrities do — plastic surgery.

“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,” she hilariously wrote in the caption. “So I had to skip the Academy Awards. No drama. Everything is fine.”

Her refreshing take on the elective surgery was supported by her followers in the comments.

“Love your transparency. F-yeah! Some people can embrace that candle look but others…hell no. Either way is right as long as it makes you happy. Big healing love,” wrote one social media account.

Former Step by Step star Christine Lakin added, “In a world where both an Academy Award and a neck lift are personal aspirations, I think I’d still choose the neck lift.”

Plastic surgery used to be a big taboo topic in Hollywood, but slowly, some stars are revealing that they have gone under the knife. It’s a personal decision — and not a path for everyone — but the honesty is appreciated by fans. Many celebrity moms are talking about breast lifts, augmentations, and reductions for years, but facelift conversations are often frowned upon.

Still, Kris Jenner, Jane Fonda, and TV host Catt Sadler have openly discussed their plastic surgery journeys — and sometimes the revelations are surprising.

“I had a facelift, and I stopped because I don’t want to look distorted. I’m not proud of the fact that I had [one],” Fonda told The Hollywood Reporter in August 2022. “Now, I don’t know if I had it to do over if I would do it. But I did it. I admit it, and then I just say, ‘OK, you can get addicted. Don’t keep doing it.’”

It may seem like an easy decision for stars, especially when the conversation around aging is so common, but cosmetic surgery can come with a few drawbacks. Just ask Jane Fonda.

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Before you go, click here to see more moms who’ve opened up about their plastic surgery procedures.