98th Academy Awards ‘In Memoriam’ sparks backlash – No space for the Brigitte Bardot and James Van Der Beek

This Academy Awards 2026 add on a special feature and an extended in memoriam section to honour the lots of Hollywood legends who have died in the last year. The name of Robert Redford, Diane Keaton, and Rob Reiner were added to paid tribute to in standalone speeches. But, Catherine O’Hara and Claudia Cardinale also had extended moments.

However, there are lots of Hollywood stars missing from Oscars memorial. The prominent name amongst the icon of French cinema Brigitte Bardot, who died in December, aged 91.

The star of films add And God Created Woman, The Truth, A Very Private Affair and Contempt, the actor and singer later turned her back on the film sector and embraced the reasons of animal rights activism and even far-right politics.

No more reasoning can use however to either the Indian Bollywood legend ‘Dharmendra’ is not added in Dharmendra Oscars In Memoriam. It died last years after spending 65-years in more than 300 Hindi films.

Similarly, a backlash could have been broadly anticipated for a failure to comprise two TV pinups that dabbled in film and died young: James Van Der Beek. His top movies are Varsity Blues and The Rules of Attraction, and Eric Dane.

In the Oscars 2026 tribute controversy, potentially on account of being most notably a small-screen star, was the British actor Prunella Scales.

Meanwhile, UK talent approved included Tom Stoppard, Terence Stamp, and Pauline Collins, and European cinema icons Udo Kier, Claudia Cardinale and Béla Tarr were also added.

However, some stars took the stage personally for their co-star like Barbra Streisand stand for co-star Robert Redford and while Rachel McAdams stand for Diane Keaton and Catherine O’Hara.