Family, Friends Respond to Farrah Fawcett's Missing 'Memoriam' Mention; Academy Refuses to Apologize for Farrah Fawcett Snub
3/09/2010 02:40:00 PM
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No one expects the Oscars' annual 'In Memoriam' montage to include a mention of every death in Hollywood - but many were startled by one conspicuous omission this year: Farrah Fawcett. The montage included pictures of movie performers like Patrick Swayze, Michael Jackson, and Jean Simmons - as well as writers and movie executives - but the 'Charlie's Angels' star didn't make the cut. Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences spokeswoman Leslie Unger told the Associated Press, "Every year, it's an unfortunate reality that we can't include everybody."
Fawcett's longtime partner Ryan O'Neal isn't satisfied with the Academy's explanation. "They gave mentions to sound guys and other writers and without being disrespectful, Farrah Fawcett was an icon and a household name," he told RadarOnline.com. "Quite frankly, we were stunned at the decision not to include her in the tribute and I feel that the Academy should be scolded for that, everyone was shocked."
Fawcett's close friend Craig Nevius, who produced her made-for-TV biopic, was also outraged. Nevius told PopEater exclusively, "The Academy must have forgotten that Farrah Fawcett was in critically-acclaimed films, starring Academy Award winners Robert Duvall, and last night's best actor winner Jeff Briges. When Robert Duvall wrote the script for 'The Apostle', he sent it to Farrah right away, as asked her to pick any part she would like. Robert once told me that watching Farrah act was like 'eating caviar,' because she was that good. Robert wouldn't have sent her that script if he didn't believe she had the ability to translate her talent from TV to film."
He added, "'The Apostle' was one of Farrah's most proud moments in her long career. Farrah always felt she was too easily categorized as an Angel, and she was proud of her work, but she was so much more than that. Farrah had a very eclectic career, just as she wanted it. She worked in film, on stage, she was an artist, and all of these things may have confused people. She was too easily categorized as just a 'Charlie's Angel'. I turned off the Oscars after I had seen Farrah left out of the show."
Fawcett received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture for her performance in 1986's drama 'Extremities'.
"Farrah was a member of the Academy for over 40 years and we could not believe she did not get a mention," O'Neal said and added that he and his daughter Tatum O'Neal plan to write to the Academy asking for an explanation.
"It was a terrible decision and very hurtful," he said.
Others shared the disappointment of Fawcett's close friends and family. Fellow '70s sex symbol Jane Fonda wrote, "Where was Farrah Fawcett? She should have been included."
Legendary film critic Roger Ebert wrote via Twitter: "Major fail. ... No Farrah in the memorial. They have a whole lot of 'splaining to do."
No explanation is necessary, says Unger. "No matter how carefully and how conscientiously people address who is included, there are people who just simply can't be," she tells E! News. "In any given year there will always be some people that other people think should have been included and that there's more justification for one person versus another. It is impossible to include everybody."
Bea Arthur and Ed McMahon, performers known primarily for their work on TV, were also notably absent from the montage.
Academy Refuses to Apologize for Farrah Fawcett Snub
We noticed it. You noticed it. Her friends noticed it. But apparently the powers that be weren't as clued in.
We're talking about Farrah Fawcett's omission from the In Memoriam segment at last night's Oscars, possibly the biggest snub of all at a ceremony that otherwise unfolded as expected.
"I would not say that it was an oversight," Leslie Unger, spokeswoman for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, tells E! News. "No matter how carefully and how conscientiously people address who is included, there are people who just simply can't be."
But why was someone like Michael Jackson, with a far skimpier film résumé than Fawcett, whose film roles earned her both Golden Globe and Spirit Award nominations?
"In any given year there will always be some people that other people think should have been included and that there's more justification for one person versus another," says Unger. "It is impossible to include everybody."
Indeed, Bea Arthur and Ed McMahon, like Fawcett better remembered for their TV work than their movie roles, were also overlooked during the segment, which also included nods to Patrick Swayze, Brittany Murphy, Jean Simmons and Karl Malden.
"We were disappointed that she was not included," longtime companion Ryan O'Neal said through publicist Arnold Robinson.
"I think this is what Farrah struggled with her entire career," says Craig Nevius, Fawcett's close friend and producer of her documentary, Farrah's Story. "She struggled with respect and told me many times she felt she was put in a box.
"She loved television, and she was primarily a star on TV, but she was also a star on stage and film. You know, how you can discount Extremities [which earned her a Globe nom for Best Actress in a Drama], The Apostle [which earned her an Independent Spirit nom for Best Supporting Actress] and Dr. T and the Women, I don't know.
"I think it would be very big of them to own up to the mistake, but I also think it might set a dangerous precedent for them, which is why they probably won't do it," says Nevius of the Academy.
And it sounds like he's right.
"Every year there are many difficult decisions that have to be made and not everybody who passed during the year can be included," says Unger. "That's the unfortunate reality."
Fawcett's longtime partner Ryan O'Neal isn't satisfied with the Academy's explanation. "They gave mentions to sound guys and other writers and without being disrespectful, Farrah Fawcett was an icon and a household name," he told RadarOnline.com. "Quite frankly, we were stunned at the decision not to include her in the tribute and I feel that the Academy should be scolded for that, everyone was shocked."
Fawcett's close friend Craig Nevius, who produced her made-for-TV biopic, was also outraged. Nevius told PopEater exclusively, "The Academy must have forgotten that Farrah Fawcett was in critically-acclaimed films, starring Academy Award winners Robert Duvall, and last night's best actor winner Jeff Briges. When Robert Duvall wrote the script for 'The Apostle', he sent it to Farrah right away, as asked her to pick any part she would like. Robert once told me that watching Farrah act was like 'eating caviar,' because she was that good. Robert wouldn't have sent her that script if he didn't believe she had the ability to translate her talent from TV to film."
He added, "'The Apostle' was one of Farrah's most proud moments in her long career. Farrah always felt she was too easily categorized as an Angel, and she was proud of her work, but she was so much more than that. Farrah had a very eclectic career, just as she wanted it. She worked in film, on stage, she was an artist, and all of these things may have confused people. She was too easily categorized as just a 'Charlie's Angel'. I turned off the Oscars after I had seen Farrah left out of the show."
Fawcett received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture for her performance in 1986's drama 'Extremities'.
"Farrah was a member of the Academy for over 40 years and we could not believe she did not get a mention," O'Neal said and added that he and his daughter Tatum O'Neal plan to write to the Academy asking for an explanation.
"It was a terrible decision and very hurtful," he said.
Others shared the disappointment of Fawcett's close friends and family. Fellow '70s sex symbol Jane Fonda wrote, "Where was Farrah Fawcett? She should have been included."
Legendary film critic Roger Ebert wrote via Twitter: "Major fail. ... No Farrah in the memorial. They have a whole lot of 'splaining to do."
No explanation is necessary, says Unger. "No matter how carefully and how conscientiously people address who is included, there are people who just simply can't be," she tells E! News. "In any given year there will always be some people that other people think should have been included and that there's more justification for one person versus another. It is impossible to include everybody."
Bea Arthur and Ed McMahon, performers known primarily for their work on TV, were also notably absent from the montage.
Academy Refuses to Apologize for Farrah Fawcett Snub
We noticed it. You noticed it. Her friends noticed it. But apparently the powers that be weren't as clued in.
We're talking about Farrah Fawcett's omission from the In Memoriam segment at last night's Oscars, possibly the biggest snub of all at a ceremony that otherwise unfolded as expected.
"I would not say that it was an oversight," Leslie Unger, spokeswoman for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, tells E! News. "No matter how carefully and how conscientiously people address who is included, there are people who just simply can't be."
But why was someone like Michael Jackson, with a far skimpier film résumé than Fawcett, whose film roles earned her both Golden Globe and Spirit Award nominations?
"In any given year there will always be some people that other people think should have been included and that there's more justification for one person versus another," says Unger. "It is impossible to include everybody."
Indeed, Bea Arthur and Ed McMahon, like Fawcett better remembered for their TV work than their movie roles, were also overlooked during the segment, which also included nods to Patrick Swayze, Brittany Murphy, Jean Simmons and Karl Malden.
"We were disappointed that she was not included," longtime companion Ryan O'Neal said through publicist Arnold Robinson.
"I think this is what Farrah struggled with her entire career," says Craig Nevius, Fawcett's close friend and producer of her documentary, Farrah's Story. "She struggled with respect and told me many times she felt she was put in a box.
"She loved television, and she was primarily a star on TV, but she was also a star on stage and film. You know, how you can discount Extremities [which earned her a Globe nom for Best Actress in a Drama], The Apostle [which earned her an Independent Spirit nom for Best Supporting Actress] and Dr. T and the Women, I don't know.
"I think it would be very big of them to own up to the mistake, but I also think it might set a dangerous precedent for them, which is why they probably won't do it," says Nevius of the Academy.
And it sounds like he's right.
"Every year there are many difficult decisions that have to be made and not everybody who passed during the year can be included," says Unger. "That's the unfortunate reality."
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