Emmys: Why Matthew Perry was excluded from 'In Memoriam' tribute
What's the story
The 2024 Emmy Awards, held on Monday morning (IST), sparked confusion among viewers when the late Matthew Perry was not featured in the In Memoriam segment. The actor, best known for his role as Chandler Bing on F.R.I.E.N.D.S, passed away in October 2023 due to acute effects of ketamine. Fans expressed their disappointment on X, with one user questioning, "Did I miss it or did the Emmys not show Matthew Perry???" Another wrote, "I am completely shocked!"
Previous tribute
Perry was honored at the 2023 Emmys ceremony
The reason for Perry's exclusion from the 2024 Emmys In Memoriam segment is that he was already honored at the 2023 Emmys ceremony. The previous year's event was rescheduled to January from its usual September slot due to the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strikes. During that ceremony, a special tribute was paid to Perry with the show's iconic theme song I'll Be There For You playing during the In Memoriam segment, which concluded with an image of him.
Tributes
Celebrities who were paid tribute this year
During the ceremony, Hollywood paid tribute to Shannen Doherty, Chance Perdomo, Martin Mull, Richard Lewis, and James Earl Jones, among others. Shelley Duval, however, was noticeably absent. Singer Jelly Roll performed his song I Am Not Okay, and said, "I hope that this song can act as a healing moment for those mourning the storytellers we've lost this year." "If you are feeling lost or alone tonight, I want you to know it's OK to not always be OK."