Fawcett Omission from Oscars No Accident

Academy: the Late Actress Wasn't Included in the 'In Memoriam' Segment Because She Was Better Known as a TV Star

(AP)  The executive director of the film academy said Tuesday that Farrah Fawcett wasn't included in the Academy Awards' "In Memoriam" segment because the actress was better known as a TV star.

It was a difficult decision for the committee that assembles the segment to omit Fawcett, said Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences executive director Bruce Davis, who added that he's not surprised some fans and family members are upset.

Farrah Fawcett 1947-2009
Farrah Fawcett Laid to Rest
Farrah's Fight
Reactions to Farrah's Death

Fawcett's family issued a statement through a publicist Tuesday saying they were "deeply saddened" and "bereft with this exclusion of such an international icon who inspired so many for so many reasons."

Davis said the academy committee debated about including Fawcett and Gene Barry, a longtime TV actor who died in December at age 90, in the memorial segment but ultimately omitted both.

Davis and his colleagues thought that while the two actors appeared in movies, they were better known for their "remarkable television work" and would be more appropriately honored by the television academy at the Emmy Awards.

The group "was kind of figuring that probably the Farrah Fawcett and Gene Barry omissions would be the ones we'd get the most comments on," he said. He acknowledged that he "did get one letter about Miss Fawcett."

The academy director said "an unusual number of extremely distinguished screenwriters" died this year, and the academy tried to honor many of them in the short memorial segment.

"In every category, you're going to miss some wonderful people," said Davis, who has helped assemble Oscar's In Memoriam montage since it began in 1993.

When asked why Michael Jackson was included when actors were left out, Davis explained that Jackson had appeared in a popular theatrical film recently. Fawcett and Jackson both died on June 25.

"Think of all the blogging we would have gotten if we had left him out!" he said.

Still, he said he understands that the Fawcett and Barry omissions sting.

"There's nothing you can say to people, particularly to family members, within a day or two of the show that helps at all," Davis said. "They tend to be surprised and hurt, and we understand that and we're sorry for it."

[barcar55]

What popular theatrical film did Michael Jackson appear in? He's been out of the spotlight for years. I guess his footage from "This Is It" counted somehow even though it wasn't meant to be turned into a movie to begin with.

[wot90s]

Yeaa, the acadameee is so right... but I do believe I watched more of Farrah, than I did of the Pedophile. Jackson was nothing better than a child molester. Just a rich little person, who grabbed his crotch so he could think. Guess maybe that is how he sang so high..
Didnt like him then, dont like him now.
money talks

must not upset the blacks, whitey will get over it.
remeber that next time you go to the movies which pay outrageous salaries.
They beg working people to danate to feed the poor. Avatar's take could feed caviar to all children of the planet.

[Overruled1]

Isn't it unfair to include Michael Jackson, but not Farrah?
What acting contributions has Michael Jackson done outside of being a pedophile, running around like he was the missing Sgt. Pepper bandmember,
pretending to be a tinker bell?
Outside of singing in the contemporary musical remake of the wizard of oz doesn't cut it for me....that's not acting, it's entertainment...but not acting...
I think the decision was influenced, too heavily for Jackson, think about this, they died at the same time.

[linfinster]

They were so very wrong for having not included her! Shameful!!

[msay3]

Why be upset, people? The film academy is run by a bunch of jokers anyway!!! Farrah Fawcett was too good for their miserable hides...The worth of mankind is not metered by the likes of the film academy!! They rate ZERO on the worthiness scale....

[muhammedX]

the Michael Jackson mention just proves they are vultures supreme. Hollywood wouldn't touch his freak azz when he was alive, but let his body reach room temperature and the swoop in to consume. feckless vapid losers.

[AnnieDanny]

Their excuses are VERY annoying. If she was a MEMBER of the Academy (The family said she was a member for 40 years), then why leave her out? This was a huge FAIL, in my opinion.

[frankie2fing]

And Michael Jackson was better known as a pediphile...but he was mentioned.

[hateisafourletterword]

We are talking about the same group of people who adore Polanski, so it does make sense.