The Oscars has faced backlash over its In Memoriam segment, with viewers labelling the section as “frenetic and unreadable”.
An annual tradition, the In Memoriam segment honours those who have passed away from the entertainment industry over the last year.
Considering 2020 saw the deaths of movie world mainstays like Sean Connery, Christopher Plummer and 2021 Best Actor nominee Chadwick Boseman, expectations for the tribute were high.
However, many fans were left puzzled by the fast pace of the video and arguably up-tempo song choice in Stevie Wonder’s ‘As’.
Several viewers took to Twitter to suggest the track was inappropriate for its purpose.
“There were so many weird things about tonight’s dreadful #oscars show, but perhaps nothing more puzzling than the choice of up-tempo music for the In Memoriam, which caused faces to fly by faster than you could read their names. At least it wasn’t “I’m Happy,” one user wrote.
Meanwhile, journalist Stephen Thompson said: “Wow, that In Memoriam segment was stressfully paced and edited. Was the idea to make it so frenetic and unreadable that we couldn’t be saddened by the immense collective crushing loss?”
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On top of the criticism of the production of the video, fans also pointed out the exclusion of Glee‘s Naya Rivera and Arrested Development‘s Jessica Walter from the segment.
Although both of the late actors were best known for their TV work, they had also appeared in films throughout their careers. t
“The Memoriam was so disrespectful, they unnecessary speed run it and didn’t include Naya Rivera and Jessica Walter,” a Twitter user wrote.
It seems the issues in the In Memoriam segment were just the tip of the iceberg for this year’s ceremony, which also faced backlash for unexpectedly awarding Anthony Hopkins over Chadwick Boseman.
After the Oscars rearranged the ceremony so that the Best Actor category would be announced last, instead of Best Picture, many assumed it was so it could end on the impact of honouring Boseman posthumously.
However, the telecast concluded anticlimactically when Hopkins, who was absent from the ceremony, won instead.
Buzzfeed’s Spencer Althouse labelled the choice “chaotic and unhinged”, tweeting: “The Oscars were so sure that Chadwick Boseman was going to win that they REARRANGED THE ENTIRE CEREMONY so his category could be last, and then they gave the award to Anthony Hopkins instead…the most chaotic and unhinged thing I’ve ever seen.”
“Every single indication felt like they moved around the categories so that Chadwick Boseman would win best actor at the very end of the show. And then Anthony Hopkins wins, doesn’t give a speech, and they roll credits. This is MAXIMUM chaotic energy,” another user added.
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Check out the controversial Oscars In Memoriam segment:
