Criticism has arisen among Oscar viewers for the exclusion of Michelle Trachtenberg from this year’s In Memoriam segment by the Academy.
Following her passing at 39, amid a moving tribute by Morgan Freeman to Gene Hackman, who passed away the following day, Trachtenberg was noticeably absent from the tribute, sparking reactions from viewers at home.
Viewers criticized Academy for excluding Michelle Trachtenberg from In Memoriam during Oscars 2025
‘The Oscars’ failure to acknowledge Michelle Trachtenberg in their memorial montage for actors/actresses who passed away in the past year is disgraceful,’ expressed one viewer, while another described it as ‘so disrespectful’.
This omission did not go unnoticed by others. ‘Honestly, it’s a terrible slap in the face,’ criticized another viewer, while another commented: ‘Michelle Trachtenberg not being included in the Oscars’ in memoriam section is disturbing.’
‘Michelle Trachtenberg had a lifelong presence in the industry, dedicating herself to both movies and TV shows. Yet, the Oscars chose to overlook her in the In Memoriam segment!? That’s unacceptable,’ stated another viewer.
Michelle Trachtenberg wasn’t the only absent name in the In Memoriam segment, as horror icon Tony Todd and Shannen Doherty were also not mentioned. All names can be found in the official In Memoriam section of the Oscars website, shedding light on the numerous omissions from the segment.
Text continues below image
Following Trachtenberg’s passing, Sarah Michelle Gellar emotionally honored her Buffy the Vampire Slayer co-star. ‘Michelle, listen to me. Listen. I love you. I will always love you,’ Gellar’s tribute echoed, alluding to the ‘The Gift‘ episode from Buffy’s fifth season. ‘The hardest thing in this world is to live in it. I will be brave. I will live… for you.’
