Posted in: TV | Tagged: Busy Philipps, Dawson's Creek

Dawson's Creek: Busy Philipps Talks Finale Snub, Williamson Apology

Busy Philipps opens up about being snubbed for the Dawson's Creek finale despite her two seasons and creator Kevin Williamson's apology.

Published Fri, 02 Jan 2026 08:37:03 -0600

by Tom Chang

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Article Summary

Busy Philipps reveals how she was left out of the Dawson's Creek series finale after two seasons as Audrey.
Series creator Kevin Williamson apologized for Audrey's absence, citing time constraints and creative decisions.
Philipps shares her disappointment over her finale snub and the throwaway line ending Audrey's storyline.
The actress finally received closure after a Dawson's Creek reunion, reconnecting with the cast and Williamson.

As a late addition to the WB's Dawson's Creek, Busy Philipps played Audrey Liddell, Joey Porter's (Katie Holmes) roommate at Worthington University, who becomes part of the circle and has a brief relationship with Pacey Witter (Joshua Jackson). Not only did she acclimate herself to the group, but she was also equally embraced by the cast. She joined the series in 2001 during its fifth season in a recurring role and was elevated to the main cast in its sixth and final season, spanning 46 episodes. However, she was mysteriously absent in the 2003 series finale that flashes forward to 2007, where the gang reunites in Capeside for a wedding, but Audrey is mysteriously absent, with Joey explaining that she's busy singing backup for John Mayer. The Girls5eva star appeared on Pod Meets World to air her grievances about her snub, creator Kevin Williamson's explanation, and subsequent apology.

Dawson's Creek: Philipps Reflects on Finale Snub, Williamson's Apology — Busy Philipps in "Dawson's Creek". Image courtesy of Sony Pictures TV

Dawson's Creek Star Busy Philipps Explains Why Kevin Williamson Left Her Out of Finale

"What I heard at the time was Kevin was like, 'I don't know this character. I didn't create her, so she's not going to be in the finale,'" Philipps told hosts (and stars of Boy Meets World) Will Friedle, Danielle Fishel, and Rider Strong. The actress, who appeared in the NBC sitcom Stumble, admitted her biggest disappointment was how her story ended with a throwaway line, "It was a thing that really hurt my feelings, and I felt like I had given two seasons of my life to this show," she said. "People really loved my character. I really, you know, gave up like a big part of my life to be in Wilmington."

Philipps, who still keeps up with cast members like Michelle Williams (Jen Lindley), did get closure during a Dawson's Creek reunion earlier in 2025, and to benefit star James Van Der Beek, his ongoing cancer battle, and the group F Cancer, reflecting what Williamson told her, ""He was just like, 'I was just in a moment in my career, my life, when like I had so many things going on. They had asked me at the very last minute to come back and write the finale. I had like a day and a half to do it, and I just made this kind of weird decision, and I could have done better, and I didn't, and I'm sorry.'" Dawson's Creek, which also stars Mary-Margaret Humes, John Wesley Shipp, Mary Beth Peil, Nina Repeta, Kerr Smith, and Meredith Monroe, is available to stream on Netflix, Hulu, and Tubi.

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