Anna Faris Responds to Chuck Lorre Memoir Remarks

Anna Faris has responded publicly after her former “Mom” boss Chuck Lorre wrote in a new memoir that he initially hesitated to hire her and felt vindicated by her exit, calling the remarks painful and unexpected in an Instagram statement shared on October 16, 2026.

Chuck Lorre Recalls Early Doubts and Her 2020 Departure

Six years after Anna Faris departed the CBS sitcom, series co-creator Chuck Lorre revisited the show’s casting history in his new book, Sitcom. Lorre acknowledged that Faris was the network’s initial choice to star as recovering addict Christy Plunkett alongside Allison Janney, who played her on-screen mother Bonnie. However, the showrunner admitted he initially resisted the selection.

I initially said no. I wasn’t sure Anna would be appropriate for this kind of material.

Chuck Lorre, Co-creator of Mom

Lorre wrote that the pilot for the show came together relatively quickly before discussions turned to casting the lead role. The creator reflected on how he had previously bungled his working relationship with Charlie Sheen on Two and a Half Men, leading him to reason that an actor’s personal life is none of his business. Yet, when Faris left the show in September 2020 ahead of its eighth and final season, Lorre argued in his memoir that his initial reservations had been proven correct.

Photo: The Daily Beast

As the years went by, it became apparent that my initial reluctance to hire Anna was, in fact, correct. After six years, she left the show for mysterious reasons that were not mysterious to anyone on the show.

Chuck Lorre, Co-creator of Mom

The hit CBS series was created by Chuck Lorre, Eddie Gorodetsky, and Gemma Baker, running for eight seasons from its premiere on September 23, 2013, to its series finale on May 13, 2021. Set in Napa, California, the sitcom followed a dysfunctional mother-daughter duo consisting of Bonnie and Christy Plunkett, who had been estranged for years while both struggled with addiction before attempting to pull their lives together by staying sober. The supporting cast featured Mimi Kennedy, Jaime Pressly, Beth Hall, William Fichtner, Sadie Calvano, Blake Garrett Rosenthal, Matt Jones, French Stewart, and Kristen Johnston.

Anna Faris Shares Gratitude and Personal Recovery Milestone

Faris, 49, took to social media on October 15, 2026, to address the remarks, sharing her statement to 2.2 million Instagram followers and admitting that the publication took her by surprise. She reflected on her seven seasons on the comedy while coupling her response with a personal update regarding her health and sobriety.

Yikes. Yes, I read a few things. I really didn’t see that coming. Of course it hurts. Chuck gave me a job I loved, and for seven years I never took a day of it for granted. I’m proud of what we made together, and nothing changes how grateful I am for those people and those years.

Photo: Yahoo News UK

Anna Faris, Actress

Alongside her comments on the memoir, Faris revealed she has been sober for a year and a half. Drawing a parallel to her time portraying a recovering alcoholic on the CBS hit, the actress shared an encouraging message about her recovery.

I’ve been sober for a year and a half. I was on a show about recovery and then I lived it. Now I’m healthy, I’m working, and I’​m happier than I’ve been in a long time. If anyone reading this is where I was, I hope that’s useful. It gets better. I’m proof.

Anna Faris, Actress

The Context Behind Her 2020 Exit From the CBS Sitcom

When Faris announced her departure in September 2020, she released a statement noting that the past seven years on the project had been some of the most fulfilling and rewarding of her career, thanking Lorre, the writers, and her amazing castmates for a wonderful work experience. The network subsequently confirmed that the comedy would conclude after its eighth season, with the series finale airing on May 13, 2021. Following her exit, the show carried on for one additional season.