French Stewart defends Anna Faris, slams Chuck Lorre in 'Mom' memoir row
Synopsis
French Stewart’s Instagram broadside against Chuck Lorre is more than a co-star loyalty post — it puts a spotlight on how powerful TV creators can shape public narratives about actors in memoirs, with few avenues for rebuttal. Anna Faris, who built the show’s emotional core over eight seasons, had already called Lorre’s remarks ‘painful’ before Stewart went public with his pointed defence.
Key Takeaways
French Stewart posted on Instagram defending Anna Faris and criticising Chuck Lorre over remarks in his new book.
Stewart called Faris the ‘spine’ of Mom and praised her as ‘funny, kind, prepared’ across their eight seasons together on CBS .
He described Lorre’s book as throwing Faris ‘under the television bus.’ Anna Faris addressed the comments on 16 October , calling them ‘painful’ and ‘unexpected,’ and shared a personal sobriety milestone.
Chuck Lorre has not publicly responded to Stewart’s post as of the time of this report.
Actor French Stewart has publicly rallied behind his former Mom co-star Anna Faris, expressing disappointment after show creator Chuck Lorre reportedly criticised Faris in his new book. Stewart, who spent eight seasons alongside Faris on the CBS sitcom, called her the backbone of the series and took a pointed dig at Lorre in the process.
What Stewart Said
Stewart shared the post on Instagram, alongside a photograph with Faris, writing: “Anna Faris is one of my all time favorite costars. Funny. Kind. Prepared. Delivered on show night. The vast majority of my eight years on Mom was spent working with Anna. She was Mom. The spine of the show. And a legit good person.”
He did not stop at praise. Taking a sharp dig at Lorre, Stewart added: “I was disheartened to see Chuck Lorre throw her under the television bus in his new book. I’ll say this. Whenever I saw Anna — I saw a woman working hard to make a good show. Whenever I saw Chuck — I saw a man trying hard not to turn into a werewolf. That was my experience. I wouldn’t trade a day working with her.”
Background on 'Mom' and Anna Faris
Mom is an American sitcom co-created by Chuck Lorre, Eddie Gorodetsky, and Gemma Baker, which aired for eight seasons on CBS. Set in Napa, California, the show follows mother-daughter duo Bonnie and Christy Plunkett — estranged women navigating sobriety together. The ensemble cast included Allison Janney, Mimi Kennedy, Jaime Pressly, Beth Hall, William Fichtner, Sadie Calvano, Blake Garrett Rosenthal, Matt Jones, French Stewart, and Kristen Johnston.
Faris, who rose to wider prominence through her lead role as Cindy Campbell in the Scary Movie franchise, anchored the sitcom for multiple seasons before her departure. Her comedic versatility made her a fan favourite throughout the show’s run.
Faris Breaks Her Silence
On 16 October, Faris herself addressed Lorre’s comments, describing them as “painful” and “unexpected.” In the same statement, she reportedly shared a personal milestone related to her sobriety — a subject central to both her life and the themes of Mom. The nature of Lorre’s specific remarks has not been independently verified, but the responses from both Faris and Stewart suggest the criticism was significant enough to warrant public rebuttal.
Industry Reactions and What It Means
Stewart’s post has drawn considerable attention online, with many fans and industry observers siding with Faris. This comes amid a broader conversation in Hollywood about how showrunners and creators write about their collaborators in memoirs and public accounts. Notably, Lorre has been a prolific and influential figure in American television, with credits including The Big Bang Theory and Two and a Half Men, which gives this dispute an added layer of power-dynamic scrutiny.
As of now, Chuck Lorre has not publicly responded to Stewart’s Instagram post. Whether the dispute escalates or fades into the churn of entertainment news may depend on how widely the memoir’s specific claims are circulated.
Point of View
With limited right of reply beyond social media. What gets missed in the entertainment-news churn is the structural asymmetry: creators own the narrative of their shows, and actors who leave — voluntarily or otherwise — rarely get to shape it. Faris’s public response and Stewart’s defence suggest that, this time, the other side is not staying silent.
NationPress
22 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did French Stewart post about Anna Faris and Chuck Lorre?
French Stewart posted on Instagram to defend Anna Faris after Chuck Lorre reportedly criticised her in his new memoir. Stewart, who worked with Faris for eight seasons on Mom, called her the spine of the show and said he was disheartened by Lorre’s remarks.
What did Anna Faris say about Chuck Lorre’s book?
On 16 October, Anna Faris addressed Lorre’s comments, describing them as ‘painful’ and ‘unexpected.’ She also reportedly shared a personal milestone about her sobriety during the same statement.
What is the sitcom Mom about?
Mom is a CBS sitcom co-created by Chuck Lorre, Eddie Gorodetsky, and Gemma Baker that ran for eight seasons. Set in Napa, California, it follows mother-daughter duo Bonnie and Christy Plunkett as they navigate sobriety and estrangement together.
Who else starred in Mom alongside Anna Faris?
The ensemble cast included Allison Janney, Mimi Kennedy, Jaime Pressly, Beth Hall, William Fichtner, Sadie Calvano, Blake Garrett Rosenthal, Matt Jones, French Stewart, and Kristen Johnston.
Has Chuck Lorre responded to French Stewart’s criticism?
As of the time of this report, Chuck Lorre has not publicly responded to Stewart’s Instagram post criticising his new book.
