Viewers’ Furious Over Oscars Snub of James Van Der Beek and Eric Dane

The Oscars’ In Memoriam segment is meant to be a quiet, emotional moment.

Instead, it set off a wave of anger online.

Viewers watching Sunday’s ceremony noticed that James Van Der Beek and Eric Dane were not included in the televised montage honoring stars who died over the past year.

And social media didn’t hold back.

As the tribute aired, fans jumped online to vent.

“I was sad that Eric Dane didn’t appear in the in memoriam tribute,” one viewer wrote.

Others asked why both actors were missing, with one person posting, “How do they get this wrong every year??”

Some viewers also claimed Brigitte Bardot was left out, calling it “a pretty astounding miss.”

]According to the report, Van Der Beek died on Feb. 11 at age 48 after a battle with cancer. Dane died on Feb. 19 at age 53 following a battle with ALS.

That timing is part of what fueled the outrage. Viewers said the losses were recent, widely known, and deserved to be acknowledged on the broadcast.

One of the biggest complaints wasn’t just that the names were missing.

It was the idea that some were allegedly listed on the Academy’s website, but still didn’t make it into the televised version—something critics say happens almost every year.

Fans also pointed to other performers they believe were not shown during the broadcast In Memoriam, including:

• Robert Carradine
• Richard Chamberlain
• Malcolm-Jamal Warner
• Bud Cort
• Tom Noonan
• Julian McMahon

Adding to the frustration, viewers also pointed out that both Dane and Van Der Beek were reportedly not included in the BAFTAs’ In Memoriam segment last month, either.

For many watching at home, it left the same question hanging in the air: how does this keep happening—especially during the one segment that’s supposed to honor everyone.