Anna Faris left CBS’s Mom in 2020 because, in her own words, she wanted to pursue new opportunities. In 2026, she added a more personal reflection: the job was intense and took a long time, and toward the end she began to lose focus. Those are the explanations on record. No credible report establishes a hidden dispute, a scandal, or a single private motive behind the decision.
What Faris said when she left in 2020
Faris exited before Season 8 of Mom, ending a run of seven seasons as Christy Plunkett. The departure was announced on September 4, 2020. Her statement described the years on the show as fulfilling and rewarding, thanked creator Chuck Lorre, the writers, and her castmates, and gave her reason in a single phrase: she was leaving to pursue new opportunities.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Mom: Season 1 | $9.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
Mom: The Complete Seventh Season | $14.95 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
Mom: The Complete Seasons 1 - 5 | Buy on Amazon | |
| 4 |
|
Mom: Season 2 | $4.94 | Buy on Amazon |
The full statement is worth reading in context, because it contains two separate ideas. The first was a reflection on her career: “The past seven years on Mom have been some of the most fulfilling and rewarding of my career.” The second explained the decision: “While my journey as Christy has come to an end, allowing me to pursue new opportunities, I’ll be watching next season and rooting for my TV family.” Nothing in the statement points to a disagreement, and it closed on warmth toward the cast.
The studio, network, and production company responded with their own statement. They said Faris had been the first and only choice for Christy, thanked her for her portrayal, and wished her well. Warner Bros. Television confirmed that the character would not be recast and that her absence would be written into the story.
#1 Best Overall
What she said about the work in 2026
In June 2026, CinemaBlend reported on Faris’s appearance on Josh Horowitz’s Happy Sad Confused podcast. According to that account, she spoke about the demands of the job, particularly the time it consumed. The article quotes her: “I do think the intensity — towards the end, I think I started to lose my focus. I think the marathon…. I never had a job besides waitressing for over three months before.”
Two points about this material matter for accuracy. First, it is a secondary report, so for exact wording and tone, the original podcast episode is the authoritative source. Second, the remark describes how the work felt near the end of the run. It is not a new explanation that replaces the 2020 statement. CinemaBlend also reported that Faris described her feelings about the period as complicated and said she was hesitant to go into depth, because seven years was a large part of her life and the project had been both intense and amazing.
Rank #2
Contract timing: context, not a motive
TV Guide, citing Deadline, reported that Faris’s exit was finalized early in the show’s COVID-related hiatus. The same reporting said she had reportedly signed a two-year contract in 2019. Those details explain when the decision was settled and what contractual frame surrounded it. They do not show why she chose to leave, and they should not be read as evidence of a dispute.
What the show did next
The series continued into Season 8 with Allison Janney as its sole lead. The writers did not recast Christy. They addressed her absence within the storyline, and co-creator Gemma Baker said the character would have a happy ending and a new path.
PC Slower Than It Used to Be?
A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11Outdated Drivers Are Slowing You Down
One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchRank #3
Janney spoke about the change in November 2020. She called Faris’s absence a major loss and said she would miss the Bonnie and Christy relationship. Her comment reflects how the cast felt about the departure, and it is consistent with the public tone of the exit announcement.
Timeline at a glance
| Date | Event | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Two-year contract reportedly signed | TV Guide, citing Deadline |
| September 4, 2020 | Exit before Season 8 announced; Faris cites new opportunities | Faris’s statement and studio statement |
| Season 8 (2020–21) | Show continues with Janney as sole lead; Christy not recast | Warner Bros. Television; TV Guide |
| November 2020 | Janney calls the absence a major loss; Baker describes Christy’s new path | Public comments by Janney and Baker |
| June 2026 | Faris discusses the job’s intensity on Happy Sad Confused | CinemaBlend report of the podcast |
What is not established
- A conflict with the cast, writers, or producers. Public statements from all sides were cordial, and none describes a dispute.
- A health reason. No reporting ties her departure to a medical issue.
- A single definitive motive. Her stated reason was new opportunities; her 2026 remarks add fatigue and a loss of focus near the end. Both can be true at once, and neither is presented as the whole story.
If you are looking for the most accurate short answer, it is this: Faris said she was leaving for new opportunities, and she later described the work as demanding enough that she lost focus toward the end. Anything beyond those statements is speculation.
Rank #4
For a documentary-style look at how television series wind down when a lead departs, these explanations give a useful model: the actor’s stated reason, the studio’s narrative response, and the timing of the contract all sit in different categories, and they should be kept separate.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →
