Was Paul Rudd treated badly on Friends? Here’s what he’s said

You don’t have to be the biggest Friends fan in the world to love Paul Rudd as Mike Hannigan. The character’s relationship with Phoebe Buffay (played by Lisa Kudrow) is one of the cutest in television history, and it’s hard not to be charmed by him. Over the years since the NBC series concluded, Rudd has remained a household name, going on to secure roles in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Parks and Recreation, and a handful of other memorable titles.

It’s hard to find someone who doesn’t like Paul Rudd, so when the Friends reunion special was announced and the special guest list was shared, fans were hoping the 52-year-old actor would be in attendance. Well, many people were disappointed to find out he would not be there.

The Friends reunion, which airs next Thursday, May 27 on HBO Max, will feature guest stars such as Justin Bieber, BTS, and Lady Gaga, along with some of the show’s actors like Tom Selleck and James Michael Tyler. Of course, the main six stars of the series will be in attendance as well, which includes Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, David Schwimmer, Matt LeBlanc, and Matthew Perry.

Why won’t Paul Rudd be at the Friends reunion special?

So why won’t Rudd be there? As fans have begun complaining about his lack of attendance, many started wondering about how he was treated on set, bringing up the fact that the actor has had less-than-pleasant things to say about his experience.

We’re not sure whether or not Rudd was invited to the special, however, he has recalled not exactly loving his time on Friends. In 2020, the Ant-Man actor told Chris Evans during an Actors on Actors segment from Variety that he felt “like a prop” while acting on the show. He was sure to follow that up by saying, “But there’s a very interesting feeling to be a part of something that has that kind of profound impact on pop culture.”

Despite feeling as though the show had already established its cliques and was way bigger than the character of Mike Hannigan, it doesn’t look like Paul Rudd hated his experience, either. He was not one of the main actors, and it seems like he felt that. All in all, though, I don’t think he looks back with completely sour memories.

According to Screen Rant, Rudd was actually already friends with Jennifer Aniston before appearing on Friends, likely making it easier to join the cast. Though he might’ve felt left out at times being a guest star, the idea that he was treated badly or hated his experience seems to be an exaggeration by fans and the media over the years.

We’ll be patiently waiting to see if Rudd or any of the other Friends actors speak out on why the Marvel star couldn’t make the reunion special–whether he wasn’t invited, had scheduling problems, or anything else.

Make sure to tune in for the Friends reunion on HBO Max next Thursday, May 27.