EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: Ryan O'Neal Calls Oscar Omission of Farrah Fawcett "Hurtful"
Posted on Mar 08, 2010 @ 02:07PM
Ryan O'Neal spoke to RadarOnline.com exclusively regarding the omission of Farrah Fawcett from the "In Memoriam" segment during Sunday's 82nd Academy Awards broadcast, calling it "hurtful" and "terrible."
Farrah Fawcett Left Out Of In Memoriam Oscar Montage
“It was a terrible decision and very hurtful," O'Neal said. "Farrah was a member of the Academy for over 40 years and we could not believe she did not get a mention." Patrick Swayze, Michael Jackson and Brittany Murphy were included in the segment.
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O'Neal also revealed that he and daughter Tatum O'Neal- who watched the ceremony together- intend to write a letter of protest.
“Both Tatum and I were very upset and we intend to write a letter to the Academy to try and get an explanation for this oversight on their behalf."
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RadarOnline.com spoke to Lesle Unger, a rep for the Academy, shortly after the awards ended. She explained that "there are many angles that are looked at as to who to include and unfortunately we don't include everyone."
Bruce Davis, the executive director of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, said days before that the segment was the most difficult to produce since they had to whittle over a hundred names down to around thirty.
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O'Neal scoffed at the notion that Fawcett would not make that final cut: “They gave mentions to sound guys and other writers and without being disrespectful, Farrah Fawcett was an icon and a household name.
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“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.”
Famed critic Roger Ebert also criticized the decision saying, "No Farrah in the memorial. They have a whole lot of 'splaining (sic) to do."
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First Farrah did motion pics. Don't comment without looking first. Second Bea Arthur was also snubbed. Bad decisions for a no energy nite of oscars.
Posted Wed, 03/10/2010 - 10:28pm
Ryan O'Neal could care less..I believe he just wants to keep his name in the limelight. It would have been nice if she was included though.
Posted Tue, 03/09/2010 - 8:41am
Never heard of Britney Murphy before she died. Guess she was supposed to be a bigger star??
Posted Tue, 03/09/2010 - 4:32am
But I also think Ryan & Tatum should yes, go ahead & write the letter, but then forgive the oversight or the cut or whatever they want to call it and move on. It would be the classy thing to do on behalf of Farrah.
Posted Tue, 03/09/2010 - 2:15am
Cut the opening dance number and later, the interpretive dance & they would have had plenty of time to add more names. How must the other academy members' families feel who were less important so also weren't included. Shameful.
Posted Tue, 03/09/2010 - 2:13am
none
Posted Tue, 03/09/2010 - 3:20am
Farrah did TV MOVIES not films for the theater. I am sure that she will be remembered at the Emmy's. I hope that we don't have her birthday celebrated every year after death like Marilyn Monroe, Elvis and Anna Nicole. Enough is enough.
Posted Tue, 03/09/2010 - 12:20am
I don't think it was done purposely; I think whoever was in charge just completely forgot about her, but how disgraceful. She would be so hurt by that; and I am for her.
Posted Tue, 03/09/2010 - 12:03am
I hope the academy takes the disrespect they showed her by forgetting her and maybe add a montage of her in next year's with a special note saying she will never be forgotten. So sad. Some of us will never forget her.
Posted Tue, 03/09/2010 - 12:03am
Shame on Oscar Board of Directors and Committee U should know better than that She was our idol
Posted Mon, 03/08/2010 - 11:46pm