Why Wendi McLendon-Covey Was Missing From the 'Bridesmaids' Reunion at Oscars 2026

Fans got a big surprise during the 2026 Oscars when several stars from Bridesmaids reunited on stage!

Melissa McCarthy, Maya Rudolph, Kristen Wiig, Rose Byrne, and Ellie Kemper took the stage together during the 2026 ceremony to celebrate the movie’s 15th anniversary on Sunday (March 15) at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood.

The actresses presented the award for Best Original Score and Best Sound and performed a comedy bit together, reading humorous “notes” supposedly written by audience members, resulting in hilarious reactions from stars like Leonardo DiCaprio, Stellan Skarsgard, and Benicio del Toro.

Wendi McLendon-Covey, who played Rita in the 2011 comedy, notably did not attend the show.

Keep reading to find out more…

According to Paul Feig, the director of the movie, she had a scheduling conflict of some kind.

“I just heard that she was not available,” he shared on the red carpet to Entertainment Tonight. “She might even be traveling, I’m not sure. But we will miss her terribly because I love Wendi.”

While she wasn’t at the ceremony, she was active on social media during the night, sharing funny clips on her Instagram Story.

Watch the Bridesmaids reunion above!

The Oscars ceremony is being hosted by comedian Conan O’Brien for the second year in a row. Sinners broke a record for most nominations for a movie in a single year, with 16 nods. Check out the full list of nominees!