Wendi McLendon-Covey has shared the reason behind her absence from the Bridesmaids reunion at the 98th Annual Academy Awards held on Sunday night.

The 56-year-old actress was noticeably absent as her fellow cast members took the stage to present the Oscar for Best Score and Best Sound.

After the event, McLendon-Covey took to Instagram to explain she is recuperating from a recent plastic surgery 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 informed her 310,000 followers.

She reassured her fans by stating there is “no drama” and that “everything is fine.”

The reunion marked 15 years since the comedy, featuring McLendon-Covey alongside Kristen Wiig, Melissa McCarthy, Rose Byrne, Ellie Kemper, and Maya Rudolph, was released in theaters.

Wendi McLendon-Covey explained she missed the Bridesmaids reunion at Sunday night’s 98th Annual Academy Awards because she had plastic surgery

The cast of Bridesmaids sent fans into a frenzy as they reunited to present two awards at the 98th Annual Academy Awards on Sunday

McLendon-Covey’s Instagram photo showed her with a bandage wrapped around her head as she lay in bed.

The actress was makeup-free and wearing navy blue pajamas.

Former model and age positivity activist Paulina Porizkova wrote in the comments, ‘Hope you recover easily!’

Wiig, McCarthy, Byrne, Kemper and Rudolph were greeted with cheers and applause as they strolled onto the Oscar stage together on Sunday evening.

SNL alum Wiig told the crowd, ‘We are so happy to all be here together tonight. I cannot believe that it’s been 15 years.’

She joked, ‘Now we are not good with numbers, but we figured out backstage that means we shot this movie in 1883.’

Viewers took to X to share their thoughts on the reunion, with some demanding a sequel. 

One said, ‘It made me so happy to see the Bridesmaids cast reunite again. They were hilarious,’ and another added, ‘Ok but what if the cast of Bridesmaids hosted next year or even just reunited for like SPY 2.’

‘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,’ McLendon-Covey wrote to her 310,000 followers; pictured in February 2025

McLendon-Covey assured fans that there is ‘no drama’ and ‘everything is fine’ 

The reunion comes 15 years after the comedy – starring McLendon-Covey, Kristen Wiig, Melissa McCarthy , Rose Byrne , Ellie Kemper, and Maya Rudolph – hit theaters 

‘Feel like we need a sequel of Bridesmaids. Gather the whole crew Annie’s wedding That would be fire,’ another fan agreed.

‘We need a Bridesmaids 2! Love this cast,’ someone else posted, while yet another social media user added, ‘I wouldn’t mind a Bridesmaids sequel.’

‘Need a Bridesmaids 2. Or at least a film with all 5 girls together again,’ a different X user shared, and one said, ‘We need another movie with the Bridesmaids actresses! Seriously, they’re the absolute best!’

‘I am not a girl that ever asks for part 2 but we need Bridesmaids part 2 ASAP,’ someone echoed and one added, ‘This is my formal petition to have the Bridesmaids cast host every future Oscars ceremony.’ 

Bridesmaids, directed by Paul Feig, premiered in 2011. 

It was a box office success, raking in $289.1 million from a $32.5 million budget.

The film earned an Oscar nomination for Best Original Screenplay and McCarthy received a nod for Best Supporting Actress.