Emily Osment has addressed why she didn’t appear in the Hannah Montana 20th Anniversary Special, as Miley Cyrus made a lighthearted dig at host Alex Cooper during the event.
On Monday (March 23), Cyrus, 33, marked two decades since the Disney Channel series began, reuniting on-screen with castmates Jason Earles, Moisés Arias, and former love interest Cody Linley.
But one familiar face was missing: Osment, who played Miley’s best friend Lily Truscott (and Lily’s alter ego, Lola Luftnagle). After fans noticed her absence, Osment shared the reason on Instagram.
Now 34, she explained she couldn’t take part because she’s currently filming a new season of Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage.
The show is the third entry in The Big Bang Theory universe and continues the story after Young Sheldon.
Osment stars as weather reporter Amanda “Mandy” McAllister, who is 11 years older than her husband Georgie Cooper (played by Montana Jordan).
“We’re at Georgie & Mandy … and that’s why I was not able to be part of the 20-year reunion, because we are here shooting our show,” she said in the video.
“I wanted to say hello and thank you to everybody that has stuck by us for all these years. I’m so grateful that you guys all still love this show. I’m so proud to be a part of it.”
In her caption, the Almost Family star reflected on how Hannah Montana shaped her career, saying it ‘changed’ her life and gave her a ‘lifelong respect for this medium of comedy’.
“I’ve met thousands of HM fans over the years, fans that now have children watching this show and fans that literally work beside me every day, like Montana. He’s seen every episode, don’t be fooled,” she continued.
Osment also told followers how meaningful their support has been throughout the years.
“I can’t tell you what your sweet messages mean to me and how lucky I feel to have been a part of this once-in-a-generation goliath of a television show,” Osment said, thanking fans for letting her into their living rooms.
“I hope to still be there many years from now. Would never be where I am without you guys, working on another beautiful show I love so dearly.”
Meanwhile, at the Los Angeles premiere for the Hannah Montana 20th Anniversary Special, Cyrus teased Cooper, 31, for relocating near her.
Speaking onstage at the El Capitan Theatre, Cyrus called the move “weird” in a joking exchange, before later expressing appreciation for Cooper hosting the night.
“Alex being a super-fan, kinda creepy,” she joked. “She’s also my neighbor which is also creepy.
“She got money and then she moved next door to me so there was no other host… Yeah, it was weird.”
Elsewhere, Earles, 48 — who played Jackson, Miley’s brother on the series — recently shared a behind-the-scenes story about joining the cast, revealing he initially wasn’t upfront about his age with Disney.
“When I auditioned for the show, I lied to them and told them I was 18 years old,” he said on the Best of Both Our Worlds: The Official, Unofficial Hannah Montana Podcast.
“I remember one of the higherup network executives showed up on show night and he was like, ‘Hey, so, you’re 28.’ And I was like, ‘I am’.
“And he’s like, ‘So, you’re married? And I was like, ‘Yeah, that girl that I keep making out with, yeah. that’s my wife.’ And he was like, ‘Uh, any more any more secrets? Anything we should know?”
The Hannah Montana 20th Anniversary Special is available to stream on Disney+ from March 24.