BAFTA 2024 faces backlash for omitting Matthew Perry in the In Memoriam segment, rebuffing Barbie

The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) is facing online backlash for ignoring the late actor Matthew Perry from F.R.I.E.N.D.S. in its 'In Memoriam' segment, which infuriated his admirers. But not for just forgetting Matthew Perry, the 2024 BAFTA Film Awards is also at the receiving end of social media ire as Greta Gerwig's Barbie did not even receive a single award.  

Matthew Perry, who played Chandler Bing in the popular American sit-com, was not included in the tribute segment of the prestigious award ceremony held on Sunday. Here’s how fans reacted.  

Matthew Perry fans go ballistic   

Social media users swiftly criticised Ted Lasso's Hannah Waddingham for her performance of Cyndi Lauper's Time After Time as Matthew was not featured during this year’s BAFTA tribute section. Netizens slammed BAFTA on X, labelling the alleged exclusion as "bad form" and posting a GIF of Chandler Bing from Matthew's Friends with the comment, "You can't make this stuff up." Another X user wrote, "Shame on you BAFTA. #matthewperry." Yet another user added, "BAFTA didn't include #MatthewPerry because why...? he was a TV actor - he went the whole nine yards, movies, producer, writer."

Also Read: BAFTA Awards 2024 winners - Oppenheimer, Poor Things, The Holdovers, The Boy and the Heron, and more 

One social media user remarked, "Why wasn't he mentioned in the BAFTAs????.", while another user wrote "#BAFTA what happened to Matthew Perry in your memoriam”. I am aware that he is well-known for TV Friends, but he also made some films – shocking mistake..."  

BAFTA responds to the online backlash  

Now, BAFTA has addressed the criticism on social media. After facing backlash over Matthew's exclusion from the memorial, a BAFTA representative informed, "I can confirm Matthew Perry will be remembered in our forthcoming BAFTA Television Awards."  

Echoing this sentiment, BAFTA said on X "Matthew Perry will be remembered in this year's TV Awards ceremony". The academy also published a link to its online tribute to the actor.  

Matthew Perry passed away at his Los Angeles home on October 28, 2023. It was eventually established that acute ketamine effects were the primary cause of his death, with additional circumstances playing a role. The late actor was most recently mentioned in the Emmy Awards last month. He received a moving tribute during the Emmy Awards' In Memoriam segment, which moved many people to tears. Charlie Puth and the singer-songwriter team The War and Treaty covered The Rembrandts' I'll Be There for You, which is the theme song for F.R.I.E.N.D.S.  

Matthew's picture was displayed when Charlie Puth sang his 2015 hit song, "See You Again," which changed into the F.R.I.E.N.D.S theme tune, "I'll Be There for You."  

Barbie team goes home without any awards  

Barbie, one of the biggest blockbusters of the previous year, was nominated for Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor, and Best Original Screenplay along with a few other design awards, but the Sunday award ceremony made sure that the cast and producers of the Greta Gerwig directorial went home empty-handed, while Oppenheimer swept away all the major prizes. Despite receiving seven nominations, Maestro was overlooked, while Martin Scorsese's Killers of the Flower Moon lost out on all nine of its nominations. Emma Stone, who took home the Leading Actress BAFTA for her role in Poor Things, defeated Barbie star Margot Robbie.  

Also Read: BAFTA Awards 2024 - Barbie, Margot Robbie, Greta Gerwig and Ryan Gosling return empty-handed from London 

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