The Academy had some major explaining to do after leaving Joan Rivers out of the Oscars’ “In Memoriam” tribute on Sunday, but offered up a thin explanation for the late Hollywood icon’s absence.
“Joan Rivers is among the many worthy artists and filmmakers we were unfortunately unable to feature in the ‘In Memoriam’ segment of this year’s Oscar show,” a rep for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences told Page Six.
The rep also noted that Rivers “is, however, included in our ‘In Memoriam’ gallery on Oscar.com.”
Social media erupted on Sunday night after Rivers, who died in September at the age of 81, as well as stage and screen legend Elaine Stritch were left out of the annual tribute to members of the Hollywood community who have died in the last year.
This year’s tribute included legends such as Robin Williams, Mickey Rooney and Mike Nichols, as well as executives, writers and members of the production community who were not household names.
Rivers appeared in movies including “The Muppets Take Manhattan” and wrote and directed 1978’s “Rabbit Test” — and was famous for her red-carpet fashion critiques, credited for inventing the phrase “Who are you wearing?” Stritch’s film credits, meanwhile, include “A Farewell to Arms” and “Monster-in-Law.”
Documentaries were also made about the two women.
On Monday morning’s episode of “The View,” Academy Award winner and past Oscar host Whoopi Goldberg expressed her upset over the omission of Rivers and Stritch, who died at the age of 89 last year, from the segment.
“It’s the last hoorah and … it doesn’t matter how many actors it is, or directors or producers or wardrobe people. Name them all. This is their moment,” Goldberg said. “Everybody can stand to allow these folks, who have spent a lifetime in our industry, to be recognized.”
“They left folks out last year as well. Perhaps you want to re-think it because it’s the last time, the last time, we can applaud these people,” she added.
“The Last Boy Scout” star Taylor Negron and Jan Hooks of “Saturday Night Live” were also left out of the tribute.
A rep for the Academy did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
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