Oscars 2015: Where was Joan Rivers? Academy Awards In Memoriam slammed

FANS have expressed confusion and outrage that Joan Rivers was ignored in the Oscars In Memorium this year. And that wasn’t the only place it came up short.

FILE - This Oct. 5, 2009, file photo shows Joan Rivers posing as she presents "Comedy Roast with Joan Rivers " during the 25th MIPCOM (International Film and Programme Market for TV, Video, Cable and Satellite) in Cannes, southeastern France. Rivers, who died last year, is nominated for best spoken word album for “Diary of a Diva” at the 2015 Grammy Awards presented on Sunday, Feb. 8, 2015. It’s the comedienne’s second Grammy nomination and first since 1983, when she competed for best comedy recording. (AP Photo/Lionel Cironneau, File)

THE 2015 Oscars In Memorium was a disgrace.

In a year that saw the world lose such screen luminaries as Robin Williams, Lauren Bacall, Mickey Rooney and Mike Nichols, the Oscars came up short in honouring the work that these stars have done.

A video screen is displayed during In Memoriam for Robin Williams during the 87th Annual Academy Awards. Picture: Getty

Worse still, Joan Rivers, a woman who made her name policing the red carpet with witty commentary, was completely overlooked by the establishment.

Although Rivers was not technically part of The Academy, the Oscars have made exceptions in the past for those such as critic Roger Ebert, who have contributed to the movie industry in other ways and included them in the In Memorium.

Since @TheAcademy 'forgot' to pay their respects to the late @Joan_Rivers, let us repost our own. pic.twitter.com/hV6kGaEGnY

— Count Basie Theatre (@CountBasieThtr) February 23, 2015

The #Oscars may not have honored Joan Rivers or Elaine Stritch but the fans did! #ETOscars http://t.co/mKmrD8rkay pic.twitter.com/wwy9sUWiFs

— EntertainmentTonight (@etnow) February 23, 2015

#JoanRivers responds to In Memoriam snub #Oscars2015 pic.twitter.com/c1bhgwaNCO

— Chris Azzopardi (@chrisazzopardi) February 23, 2015

Would have been nice to see Joan Rivers remembered In Memoriam #Oscars2015 pic.twitter.com/kOyMGJdc9g

— Caroline Frost (@Frostalicus) February 23, 2015

It was noted too, on twitter, that actress Elaine Stritch was also left out of the segment. Although Stritch was best known for her work on stage and TV she also appeared in many films.

Usually, stars are remembered with a short clip of one of their iconic screen moments and let’s face it there was no shortage of material to choose from with the likes of Williams and Bacall in the mix.

A video screen is displayed during In Memoriam for Lauren Bacall during the 87th Annual Academy Awards at Dolby Theatre. Picture: Getty

Instead, these stars were shown only fleetingly in bland, still photos and illustrations. Williams, whose death caused shockwaves around the world and widespread outpourings of grief in Hollywood, was sandwiched in between relatively unknown performers and behind the scenes crew. Usually someone of Williams’ calibre would be saved until the end of the montage, to do true justice to the tragedy of his passing.

Originally published as Oscars 2015: Where was Joan Rivers? Academy Awards In Memoriam slammed