Oscars 2020 In Memoriam Segment Criticised Over Notable Omissions

The Oscars has been criticised over notable omissions in its in memoriam segment. 

Viewers of Sunday night’s ceremony noticed late Beverly Hills, 90210 star Luke Perry was among those missing from the video montage shown on the big screens at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. 

The actor, who was best known for his role as Dylan McKay in the 90s US teen drama, died last year at the age of 52, after suffering a stroke. 

Luke’s absence from the segment was all the more notable given he had a role in Once Upon A Time... In Hollywood, which was nominated for Best Picture. 

Descendants and Grown Ups star Cameron Boyce, who died last July at the age of 20 due to epilepsy, was also not recognised.

Other notable stars who hadn’t been included in the segment included horror actor Sid Haig, who died in September at the age of 80, Oscar-nominated actor Michael J Pollard, who died in November aged 80, and The Carol Burnett Show star Tim Conway, who died last May aged 85.

The omissions were quickly noted by social media users...

Billie Eilish accompanied the in memoriam segment with a performance of the Beatles’ 1965 hit, Yesterday.

She was joined by her brother, Finneas O’Connell, on piano as images of Kobe Bryant, Kirk Douglas and other stars appeared on screens above them.

The Academy confirmed on Twitter last month that Billie would appear at the Oscars for a “special performance,” but kept specifics under wraps.

Some fans assumed that she would use the occasion to unveil her much-anticipated theme song for the forthcoming James Bond film, No Time to Die, but that didn’t happen.  

Billie herself called Yesterday a song she’d “always loved” in an Instagram story shortly before the ceremony.