Anna Faris has responded with hurt on Instagram after her former Mom
boss, Chuck Lorre, wrote in his memoir Sitcom
that his early doubts about casting her as Christy Plunkett were ultimately proven correct by her departure from the CBS series.
Television producer Chuck Lorre reflected on the casting process for the hit CBS sitcom in his book Sitcom: A Memoir
, detailing his initial hesitation to bring Anna Faris onto the project. Despite casting director Nikki Valko pushing for Faris as the network’s first choice, Lorre admitted in an excerpt published by Page Six that he wasn’t sure Anna would be appropriate for this kind of material.
Lorre explained that he changed his mind after reflecting on his tumultuous working relationship with Two and a Half Men
star Charlie Sheen. Reasoning that someone’s personal life is none of my business,
he decided that the mom in Mom would be, and should be, Anna Faris,
launching a successful seven-season run that began when the show premiered in 2013.
Chuck Lorre Claims The 2020 Exit Confirmed His Doubts
The working relationship came under renewed scrutiny following Faris’ unexpected exit from the show in September 2020, just ahead of its eighth and final season. In his memoir, Lorre argued that her departure validated his initial misgivings about casting her, writing that she left for mysterious reasons that were not mysterious to anyone on the show.
Jaime Pressly Details Working With “Beautifully Flawed” Costars on Mom Amid Anna Faris, Chuck Lorre Drama https://t.co/Sz0bZ3UXke
— https://x.com/enews/status/2111553222091370784
While Faris originally left the series to pursue new opportunities
and thanked Lorre by name, she later opened up about the personal and professional fatigue she experienced during that period. In subsequent interviews, she also shared that she felt depressed and struggled with a lack of ambition while weighing whether she had enough money to retire.
Anna Faris Shares Her Sobriety Milestone In Response
Faris took to Instagram on Thursday, October 15, to address the remarks made in her former boss’s memoir. Yikes. Yes. I read a few things. I really didn’t see that coming. Of course it hurts,
she wrote, expressing gratitude for the seven years she spent on the show and the people she worked alongside.
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, via Instagram
The actress received an outpouring of support in the comments section from former colleagues and fellow actors. Justin Long, who guest-starred on several episodes, recalled that Faris helped him navigate an unfamiliar television medium with patience and humor. Isla Fisher also chimed in to praise her former co-star, writing, You are a comedy QUEEN.
Jaime Pressly And Co-Stars Rally Behind The Cast
Jaime Pressly, who played Jill Kendall across seven seasons of the CBS sitcom, also defended her former colleagues. Speaking to E! News at a breast cancer event, Pressly praised the supportive environment among the women on set.
I came on in the second season, but I had seven wonderful years of working with an incredible crew and an incredible cast of women, who were, all of us, just as beautifully flawed as our characters on the show were.
Jaime Pressly, via E! News
Pressly starred on the series alongside Allison Janney, Mimi Kennedy, Beth Hall, and Kristen Johnston, portraying a tight-knit circle of friends in Alcoholics Anonymous. Following Faris’ departure, the comedy continued for an eighth season anchored by Allison Janney as the sole lead before concluding its run in 2021 with a total of 13 Emmy nominations and two wins for Janney.