On April 21, Patton Oswalt posted a throwback photo of him and his late wife, Michelle McNamara, to honor the 10-year anniversary of her passing.
The pair were married from 2005 until she died in her sleep in 2016. "Ten years gone. Miss you, baby,” it was captioned.
Oswalt’s wife, Meredith Salenger, commented on the post with kind words for him and his 17-year-old daughter, saying, "Wish I had known her. I'm so sorry for the heartbreak you and Alice will always hold. I love you both with all my heart. Hugs forever."
Although many fans commented on the actor’s post with heart emojis and wished him well, others had a negative reaction to the tribute. They spoke about how “tough” it must be for Salenger to see him honoring his late wife.
Salenger responded with, "Not tough at all. My heart breaks that the two people I love the most lost the person they loved the most. That they ever endured that sadness that will never go away. My heart aches for them both."
In a Threads post that captured the interaction, Oswalt praised Salenger, saying, "Meredith elevates empathy and has guided me and Alice back into the world. This is how she responded to one of my Instagram comments. I found love twice, and I'm thankful every day."
Oswalt and Salenger have been married since 2017. The pair received negative feedback around their wedding as well, with some saying that he was moving on too soon after the passing of McNamara. In response, Oswalt shared an article written by Erica Roman called "A Widow's Rage Defense of Patton Oswalt's Engagement." In it, Roman said, “You aren’t entitled to an opinion. You don’t get to comment on the choices of a widower while you sit happily next to your own living spouse.”
