Actor Michael Rapaport passionately calls for Oscars bosses to be fired: 'I am disgusted'

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By Nasima Khatun

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Michael Rapaport has called for Oscars bosses to be fired in a scathing rant recently posted to social media.

Taking to Twitter and Instagram, the 52-year-old Friends alum hit out at the people that were responsible for the 'In Memoriam' section during Sunday night's prestigious event held at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.

This year, John Travolta had the honor of presenting the segment and during that time, he paid tribute to his former Grease co-star, Olivia Newton-John who died last August.

Introducing the late celebrities being honored, Travolta said that "Each of them left an indelible mark that shared and informed us. They’ve touched our hearts, they’ve made us smile, and become dear friends, who we will always remain hopelessly devoted to."

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John Travolta presented the In Memoriam segment of the Oscars. Credit: REUTERS / Alamy

The memorial was scheduled just over halfway through the show and celebrated the lives of those industry creatives we'd lost over the past year including the likes of Newton-John, James Caan, Angela Lansbury, Gina Lollobrigida, and Raquel Welch, as well as Hollywood director Wolfgang Petersen.

Alongside the slideshow, we were also treated to a moving performance by Lenny Kravitz who performed a rendition of his 2004 hit 'Calling All Angels' which rounded off the emotional slot.

However, like most years, the section soon became the center of controversy as some prominent figures were omitted from the Oscars line-up.

Anne Heche, Tom Sizemore, Paul Sorvino, Charlbi Dean, and Leslie Jordan were among the names that were missing - though later on, it was reported that they were added to the lineup on the official Oscars website - and it did not go unnoticed.

Fans, as well as other celebrities, took to social media to call out the blunder.

Actress Lydia Cornell who starred in Too Close for Comfort took to Twitter to write: "Can anyone explain why this happens every year? Oscars In Memoriam Segment Missing Paul Sorvino, Anne Heche, Tom Sizemore, Leslie Jordan and Charlbi Dean From Oscar-Nominated ‘Triangle Of Sadness.'"

Paul Sorvino’s daughter, Mira, also took to Twitter to complain about the Academy leaving her father out of the segment.

She tweeted: "It is baffling beyond belief that my beloved father and many other amazing brilliant departed actors were left out. The Oscars forgot about Paul Sorvino, but the rest of us never will!!"

And more recently, Michael Rapaport has also addressed the issue via his social media platforms.

"Whoever produced the Academy Awards should be fired," he started. "Sorry, the In Memoriam last night at the Academy Awards, you forgot to name, to salute, to celebrate Paul Sorvino - Pauly from Goodfellas - you didn't shout out. Paul Sorvino who passed away. Tom Sizemore who just passed away. Anne Heche, Leslie Jordan. William Hurt."

He continued: "You're so worried about being 'politically correct' that you forgot. How do you forget those five people? That's five people that I know of. Five people. Stars, big-time people, beloved actors who dedicate their entire life to show business.

"They pass away and they don't even get a shout-out, a salute at the In Memoriam.

He concluded the clip by re-emphasizing that "someone needs to be fired."

Have a look below:

According to the Daily Mail, the video rant was later re-shared by the loved ones of some of the names mentioned including Heche's ex-husband Coley Laffoon.

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Anne Heche was one of the stars missed from the In Memoriam segment. Credit: Paul Smith / Alamy

Speaking of the selection process, this year’s Oscars executive producers, Glenn Weiss and Ricky Kirshner told The Hollywood Reporter that they were not involved in the selection process for the segment.

A spokesperson for The Academy also clarified to the outlet that the "committee that makes In Memoriam decisions features a representative from each of the organization’s 17 branches, and some names that are more familiar to audiences cannot be included because all branches are entitled to representation during the limited time allotted for the segment."

Featured Image Credit: MediaPunch Inc / Alamy