Why That Epic 'Big Little Lies' Scene Was Cut, and Where You Can Watch It

It was supposed to be the most iconic Big Little Lies season 2 moment of them all. But yesterday's episode came and went, and no big "ice cream" moment.

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(Image credit: HBO)

Spoiler alert for season two of Big Little Lies episode 5. We had the scream. Then it was the slap. But apparently both of those pale in comparison to the show's rumored "ice cream" scene, which was supposed to be the most iconic Big Little Lies season 2 moment of them all. But yesterday's episode came and went, and the big moment was nowhere to be found. Fans were, unsurprisingly, totally irritated, but Meryl Streep gave fans the scoop (terrible pun totally intended, sorry) about what happened. 

First, here's what I'm talking about in case the words "ice cream throw" means nothing to you. Allll the way back in August 2018, photos were snapped of Reese Witherspoon (who plays Madeline) hurling—hurling—a cone of ice cream at the back of Meryl Streep's head. Fans were delighted to see the two acting titans face off against each other. But then, in May, Meryl (who plays Mary Louise) broke all of our hearts, telling Entertainment Tonight, "[Reese] just told me it's not in the show!" But, she added, "It's [going to be] in the DVD extras." Phew. So, we can all see the frozen dairy fight, just not yet. Maybe the producers felt like they had enough big moments already? And that Madeline and Mary Louise mattered less than the Celeste vs. Mary Louise custody battle? 

Here are the original pics of Reese and Meryl:

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And fans were not happy, to say the least, when they realized.

It's gonna be ok...eventually.

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Katherine J. Igoe
Katherine J. Igoe
Contributing Editor

Katherine’s a contributing syndications editor at Marie Claire who covers fashion, culture, and lifestyle. In her role, she writes stories that are syndicated by MSN and other outlets. She’s been a full-time freelancer for over a decade and has had roles with Cosmopolitan (where she covered lifestyle, culture, and fashion SEO content) and Bustle (where she was their movies and culture writer). She has bylines in New York Times, Parents, InStyle, Refinery29, and elsewhere. Her work has also been syndicated by ELLE, Harper’s Bazaar, Seventeen, Good Housekeeping, and Women’s Health, among others. In addition to her stories reaching millions of readers, content she's written and edited has qualified for a Bell Ringer Award and received a Communicator Award. 

Katherine has a BA in English and art history from the University of Notre Dame and an MA in art business from the Sotheby's Institute of Art (with a focus on marketing/communications). She covers a wide breadth of topics: she's written about how to find the very best petite jeans, how sustainable travel has found its footing on Instagram, and what it's like to be a professional advice-giver in the modern world. Her personal essays have run the gamut from learning to dress as a queer woman to navigating food allergies as a mom. She also has deep knowledge of SEO/EATT, affiliate revenue, commerce, and social media; she regularly edits the work of other writers. She speaks at writing-related events and podcasts about freelancing and journalism, mentors students and other new writers, and consults on coursework. Currently, Katherine lives in Boston with her husband and two kids, and you can follow her on Instagram. If you're wondering about her last name, it’s “I go to dinner,” not “Her huge ego,” but she responds to both.