The 2020 Oscars received much criticism after the late actors Cameron Boyce and Luke Perry were left out of the “In Memorium” segment.
In response to the backlash, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences released a statement to Us Weekly explaining their decision.
“The Academy receives hundreds of requests to include loved ones and industry colleagues in the Oscars ‘In Memoriam’ segment," a spokesperson said.
“An executive committee representing every branch considers the list and makes selections for the telecast based on limited available time. All the submissions are included on Oscar.com.”
Boyce was only 20 when he passed away in July from an epilepsy-induced seizure. Fans know him for his roles in Descendents and Grown Ups.
Perry died a few months later, aged 52, following a stroke. He was best known for starring in Riverdale and had appeared in Quentin Tarantino’sOnce Upon a Time in Hollywood.
The In Memorium segment of the night was soundtracked by Billie Eilish’s rendition of The Beatles’ “Yesterday”. Tributes were paid to basketball player and Oscar-winner Kobe Bryant and screen legend Kirk Douglas, among others.
