#‘Mom’ star Anna Faris leaving show before Season 8

Anna Faris and Allison Janney, stars of CBS’s critically-acclaimed comedy “Mom.”
CBS

In a shocking move, the CBS show’s star Anna Faris announced she is leaving the sitcom, produced by Chuck Lorre, right before production on Season 8 was set to begin on Sept. 14, according to Deadline.

“The past seven years on ‘Mom’ have been some of the most fulfilling and rewarding of my career,” Faris, 43, said in a statement.

“I’m so thankful to Chuck, the writers, and my amazing castmates for creating a truly wonderful work experience. 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.”

The comedy follows Bonnie, played by Oscar-winner Allison Janney, 60, and her daughter Christy, played by Faris, as they navigate life battling addiction and trying to stay sober with a group of other women in recovery.

According to Variety, Faris had been looking to pursue other opportunities outside of the hit show.

“From the inception of ‘Mom,’ Anna was the first and only choice for the role of Christy,” Chuck Lorre Productions, WBTV and CBS said in a joint statement. “We are so proud of the stories we have been able to tell during Anna’s seven years with us. We wish Anna all the best, and we thank her for her beautiful portrayal.”

The show also stars Mimi Kennedy, Jaime Pressly, Beth Hall, William Fichtner and scene-stealer Kristen Johnston.