Although actresses Debra Messing and Megan Mullally portrayed friends and memorable characters on Will & Grace, the same can't be said in real life. During the 2017 revival, rumors began to surface regarding the relationship between the pair, in which some have confirmed not to be good.
While these rumors have gone on for a while, they were slowly confirmed following a source told Radar Online that Messing and Mullally "can't stand to be near each other, and it created an impossible atmosphere on the set." The source later confirmed that the two actresses never liked one another, even during the show's original run. "They started to really grate on the other's nerves when it became clear the show was failing," said the source.
Both stars have gone on to achieve success outside the show over the years. However, outside of Will & Grace, the actresses have not acted alongside one another in any films or television shows. As of this publication, it is unclear if their behind-the-scenes tension plays a part in that.
Several Hints Were Made Throughout The Final Season Of Will & Grace
The two actresses have never expressed personal feelings towards one another in person or on social media, but Mullally admitted to being bullied in a podcast. While on-air with her husband Nick Offerman, she stated, "I've been bullied - I'm 60 and I'm being bullied right now, so you know it's a very insidious and dangerous thing and I never want to lose that happy and innocent part of myself, but it's almost like you have to kill that."
More speculation arose after the announcement of Mullally's temporary leave of absence from the final season, making her absent from two episodes. While her reason for being absent was never confirmed, several fans believe that it was due to her and Messing's feud, especially since her leave began after the rumors grew. To this day, it is still unknown why the actress missed the episodes.
The final straw had to do with Mullally's Instagram Story from 2019, in which she said, "One of the best feelings is finally losing your attachment to somebody who isn't good for you!" Even though the post did not name names, her Instagram following came back to light, as show fans noticed that she did not follow any of her Will & Grace co-stars. It was also noted that Messing is the only co-star not to follow her on Instagram.
Jealousy Has Been A Rumored Factor For Debra Messing And Megan Mullally's Feud
Despite both actresses achieving success during their time on the show, it's been said that jealousy is a prime factor in their ill relationship. While it may appear as though Mullally would be jealous of Messing, sources have claimed that Messing is actually jealous of Mullally's success from the show.
During both runs of the hit television series, Mullally and Messing took home multiple accolades. Although they were nominated for multiple Emmy Awards, Mullally took home two, while Messing only took home one. However, Messing would overpower Mullally in Golden Globe Award nominations, scoring seven for the show. Mullally was nominated for four Golden Globes. Although they were nominated multiple times, neither of them won.
The Feud Between Megan Mullally And Debra Messing May Have Been Long-Term
Even though several hints have been made over the years of the actress's unfortunate relationship, several people in the Will & Grace family have denied this being the case. One of those people is actor and co-star Eric McCormack. While speaking to US Weekly about the feud, he thought all the rumors were "crazy" and that the bond between all the cast members is "like a house on fire."
Fellow co-star Sean Hayes has steered clear of the drama behind the feud rumors, and has done nothing but speak positively about all the Will & Grace stars over the years. However, Leslie Jordan was approached about this subject during an episode of Watch What Happens Live! with Andy Cohen. Following his appearance in the final season's episode “We Love Lucy,” he claimed that he saw no tension on the set, and that if he did, he would've steered clear of drama and would have “run away” if he witnessed any.
Messing has been busy since her time on Will & Grace, starring in the 2018 thriller Searching and making a cameo appearance in 2022's Bros. Mullally currently holds a recurring role in the animated series The Great North, and will portray Mrs. Dodds/Alecto in the upcoming Disney+ series Percy Jackson and the Olympians. Although it's not confirmed, it seems likely that the two actresses have had little to no contact following their Will & Grace days.
