Miley Cyrus celebrated the 20th anniversary of Hannah Montana with a Disney+ special, but not all of her castmates returned, and Emily Osment addressed her absence.
Osment, who played Miley Stewart’s best friend on the Disney Channel series, also didn’t attend the special’s premiere and took to social media to explain why she was missing from the festivities.
“Hannah Montana changed my life, it gave me a lifelong respect for this medium of comedy, it taught me discipline, patience, timing and respect working in an adult space so young,” Osment said on Instagram, including a video in which she was on the set of her CBS sitcom Georgia & Mandy’s First Marriage alongside her co-star Montana Jordan.
She continued, “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.”
Osment noted that she has seen all the “sweet messages” the fans have sent her, adding that she feels “lucky to have been a part of this once-in-a-generation goliath of a television show,” adding, “Thank you for letting me into your living rooms, and 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. With all my heart, THANK YOU!”
Filmed in front of a live studio audience, the special features an exclusive, in-depth interview with Cyrus, hosted by Alex Cooper (Call Her Daddy podcast), as well as never-before-seen archival footage. Additionally, some of the most memorable sets from Hannah Montana are brought back to life — including the Stewart family living room and the legendary Hannah Montana closet.