Sometimes the people left out of a night like the Academy Awards seem to get just as much attention as the handful who actually took home an Oscar. Last night's In Memoriam segment was intended to act as a tribute to those working in the film industry who had died this past year, but those who put the section together drew outrage from fans who could not believe that Joan Rivers was not mentioned. The iconic comedienne died in September and, aside from her constant red carpet presence at every award show, she also had a handful of films to her credit.
While Robin Williams, Mike Nichols and Mickey Rooney were featured in the tribute beside many other industry insiders who were not household names, Rivers was missing as was screen legend Elaine Stritch, Taylor Negron and Jan Hooks of Saturday Night Live fame.
When the Academy was asked about leaving out people who clearly deserved a mention, it directed fans to its website, where everyone lost in the last year is included in its tribute.
When the ladies of ABC's The View sat down this morning, Feb. 23, to dish on the Oscars, Rivers being excluded was a huge topic, with Whoopi Goldberg taking issue with producers choosing to leave her and others out of the tribute.
"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. 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," said The View's moderator.
Apparently, even Rivers's daughter Melissa Rivers could not believe that her mother was overlooked. She is choosing to focus on the positive things instead, though, like the fact that her book written as a tribute to her mother will be available this May.
Should Rivers, Hooks, Stritch and everyone else whom the industry lost this past year have been included in the tribute, no matter how long it took? Tell us your thoughts in the comments section below.
