'It hurts...': Anna Faris reacts to Chuck Lorre's shocking comments about her casting in Mom TV series

Anna Faris has responded to renewed scrutiny surrounding her departure from Mom, six years after she announced she was leaving the CBS sitcom. The actress addressed comments from series co-creator Chuck Lorre, who revisited his initial hesitation about casting her as Christy Plunkett, in Mom TV series, in his new memoir. While Faris admitted that the remarks were painful and unexpected, she also expressed gratitude for her seven years on the show and shared a personal update about her sobriety, health and happiness.

Anna Faris says Chuck Lorre’s comments about Mom casting ‘hurt’

Faris addressed Lorre’s remarks in a statement shared on Instagram on Thursday. Reacting to what she had read, the actress said she had not anticipated the comments and admitted that they hurt. Despite her disappointment, Faris made it clear that the experience of working on Mom remained meaningful to her. She credited Lorre with giving her a role she loved and said she had never taken a day of her seven years on the sitcom for granted.

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Faris also expressed pride in what the cast and crew created together, emphasising that the recent comments had not diminished her gratitude for the people she worked with or the time she spent on the show.

Why Chuck Lorre revisited Anna Faris’ casting in Mom

Faris’ response followed comments in Lorre’s new memoir, Sitcom. The series co-creator wrote that he had been correct about his initial reluctance to cast Faris as Christy Plunkett. His remarks brought fresh attention to the actress’s departure from the sitcom. Faris announced in September 2020 that she would be leaving Mom, which had featured her as Christy, a recovering alcoholic attempting to rebuild her life alongside her mother, Bonnie Plunkett, played by Allison Janney.

The show continued without Faris for its eighth and final season. CBS announced shortly after her exit that the series would conclude, with the finale airing on May 13, 2021.

Anna Faris shares sobriety update: ‘It gets better’

Alongside her response to Lorre, Faris shared a personal update about her recovery. The actress revealed that she had been sober for a year and a half, reflecting on the contrast between playing a character dealing with addiction and experiencing recovery herself.

She noted that she had once appeared on a show centred on recovery before going through the experience in her own life. Faris said she was now healthy, working and happier than she had been in a long time.

She also offered encouragement to people who might be facing similar struggles, expressing hope that sharing her experience would be useful to others. Her message was clear: recovery can bring change, and she described herself as proof that things can get better.

What is Mom about?

Mom is an American sitcom created by Chuck Lorre, Eddie Gorodetsky and Gemma Baker. It aired on CBS for eight seasons, from September 23, 2013, to May 13, 2021. Set in Napa, California, the comedy follows a mother and daughter who attempt to repair their strained relationship after years of estrangement. Both Bonnie and Christy Plunkett have struggled with addiction and try to rebuild their lives while maintaining their sobriety.

The series stars Anna Faris as Christy and Allison Janney as Bonnie. Its supporting cast includes Mimi Kennedy, Jaime Pressly, Beth Hall, William Fichtner, Sadie Calvano, Blake Garrett Rosenthal, Matt Jones, French Stewart and Kristen Johnston. Mom also received industry recognition during its run. Janney won consecutive Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series in 2014 and 2015. She received another nomination in the same category in 2016 and was nominated for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series in 2017, 2018 and 2021. The sitcom also earned multiple nominations at the Critics’ Choice Television Awards and the People’s Choice Awards.

Faris announced her departure on September 4, 2020. CBS subsequently confirmed that the sitcom would end after its eighth season, with the series finale airing on May 13, 2021.

Where to watch Mom online

Viewers in the United States can stream Mom on Netflix, while the sitcom is available to watch on JioHotstar in India.