The 2016 Emmy Awards paid homage to the many stars who died this past year with its In Memoriam tribute on Sunday, September 18. However, the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences failed to include several celebs who passed away, angering fans and viewers.
Set to a heartfelt rendition of Leonard Cohen‘s “Hallelujah” performed by Tori Kelly, the segment honored the late Alan Rickman, Garry Marshall, Gene Wilder, Anton Yelchin, Prince, David Bowie and dozens more. To much disbelief, the Emmys snubbed a handful of Hollywood’s famous faces, including singer Christina Grimmie and wrestler Chyna.
Grimmie was best known for being a contestant on season 6 of The Voice, where she finished in third place on coach Adam Levine‘s team. In June, the singer was shot and killed by a crazed fan following a concert in Orlando, Florida. She was 22 years old.
“Ok so I’m a little annoyed that @NBCTheVoice won an Emmy & didn’t even mention Christina Grimmie, nor was she honored in the memoriam,” one Twitter user noted Sunday night. (Grimmie was also snubbed at the 2016 Teen Choice Awards broadcast earlier this year.)
Chyna, a famed professional wrestler, also went unacknowledged at the 2016 Emmys. The WWE star, who also appeared in Playboy and starred in The Surreal Life, died of an accidental overdose of a prescription sleeping pill and tranquilizer, according to her manager, at the age of 46 in April.
Ice Road Truckers star Darrell Ward, who died in a plane crash in August, and Earth, Wind & Fire cofounder Maurice White were also snubbed at Sunday’s ceremony at Los Angeles’ Microsoft Theater.
Tell Us: Were you surprised these stars were snubbed at the Emmys?