Anna Faris may have spent 7 seasons leading Mom, but show creator Chuck Lorre says he was right to initially reject her: ‘Yikes’
“It gets better. I’m proof.”
Anna Faris recently responded to comments made by producer Chuck Lorre in his new book, Sitcom: A Memoir, which was released recently. According to Entertainment Weekly, the television show creator claimed that his initial hesitation to cast Faris as the lead in the CBS comedy Mom was ultimately proven correct. This revelation follows Faris leaving the series before its final season concluded.
Faris shared her thoughts on the situation through an Instagram post on October 16, 2026. The actress started her message with a blunt assessment of the situation. She wrote, “Yikes. Yes, I read a few things. I really didn’t see that coming. Of course it hurts.” Despite the sting of the comments, Faris emphasized that she still looks back on her seven years of work on Mom with a sense of pride.
She noted, “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.”
‘I wasn’t sure Anna would be appropriate for this kind of material’
Lorre wrote in his memoir that his initial reluctance to hire Faris was based on his uncertainty about her suitability for the material. He stated, “A pilot script came together relatively quickly and was sent to [casting director] Nikki Valko. She responded with an email that simply said, ‘Anna Faris.’ I initially said no. I wasn’t sure Anna would be appropriate for this kind of material.”
Lorre eventually changed his mind after reflecting on his past work history. He recalled, “Then I thought about how badly I’d bungled my working relationship with Charlie Sheen. I called Nikki and said I’d changed my mind. Someone’s personal life is none of my business. The mom in Mom would be, and should be, Anna Faris.”
The tension appears to stem from how the working relationship ended. Lorre wrote, “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.” Faris announced her departure from the show in 2020. At that time, she thanked “Chuck, the writers, and my amazing castmates for creating a truly wonderful work experience.”
Faris has since provided more context regarding her state of mind during that period
During a conversation with Chelsea Handler on an episode of the Dear Chelsea podcast in August, she explained her decision to leave the show. Faris noted, “I didn’t know what my ambition [was]. I was, in hindsight, I think pretty depressed, like, premenopausal depression without recognizing it.”
According to Reality Tea, Faris also described a clear link between her mental health and her habits back then. She stated, “I had to take a step back and not self-sabotage.”
In her recent social media post, Faris focused on her personal growth and recovery journey. She revealed, “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.” This update marks a significant milestone for the actor as she moves forward from her time on the sitcom.
Lorre’s memoir also includes other behind-the-scenes stories from his career
The popular sitcom creator discussed the network’s resistance to casting Melissa McCarthy on Mike & Molly and detailed issues regarding writers on Roseanne being forced to include Tom Arnold’s name on scripts he did not write.
It is clear that the professional history between the creator and the lead actor is complex. While Lorre holds onto his initial doubts, Faris maintains a sense of gratitude for the work they produced together. Representatives for both Lorre and Faris have been contacted for comment regarding these claims. For now, the public record remains defined by the text in the memoir and the response shared by Faris on Instagram.
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