The Academy Responds to Fawcett Exclusion

The Academy apologizes. Well, sort of. Outrage circulated after the 82nd Annual Academy Awards snubbed actress Farrah Fawcett during the ceremony’s “In Memoriam” segment. In response, People magazine reports the executive director of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences apologized to Fawcett’s friends, family and fans.

However, Bruce Davis, who has been in charge of the tribute piece since 1993, defends his choice to purposefully overlook Fawcett, People reports, by saying: “There's nothing you can say to people, particularly to family members, within a day or two of the show that helps at all. They tend to be surprised and hurt, and we understand that and we're sorry for it.”

Davis says Fawcett’s “remarkable television work” made it more appropriate for the actress to be honored at the Emmys instead of the Oscars, People reports.

Davis also backed his decision to add Michael Jackson to the mix despite Jackson mostly being known for his music contributions. People reports Davis says Jackson starred in a successful feature documentary last year.

The magazine also points out other noticeable absences from the Academy’s segment like Bea Arthur and Gene Barry.