Users on social media have expressed their disappointment at a tribute to David Lynch during the 2025 Oscars‘ In Memoriam segment.
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The beloved late director’s death was announced by his family on social media earlier this year (January 16) – he was aged 78 and died from cardiac arrest.
Lynch was included in the In Memoriam segment, which was presented by Morgan Freeman – the veteran actor began with a monologue about Gene Hackman, who was found dead last week with his wife Betsy Arakawa and dog.
The annual segment – which, this year, was soundtracked by a live ensemble’s rendition of Mozart’s ‘Lacrimosa’, a movement from his ‘Requiem Mass’ piece – features brief clips of every Hollywood figure who has died in the past year deemed notable by the Oscars. For Lynch, whose death was widely mourned across Hollywood and beyond, his lack of a tribute beyond the clip was criticised by viewers on social media.
“Not giving David Lynch something more substantial than a 2 second in memoriam clip — #Oscars2025 you better sleep with both eyes open. 👀” tweeted RuPaul’s Drag Race star Katya Zamolodchikova. “They relegated david lynch to a five second clip in the in memorium segment”, another user lamented.
“David Lynch literally changed cinema and THATS ALL THEY’RE GIVING HIM ?” tweeted one user.
Not giving David Lynch something more substantial than a 2 second in memoriam clip — #Oscars2025 you better sleep with both eyes open. 👀
— Katya (@katya_zamo) March 3, 2025
they relegated david lynch to a five second clip in the in memorium segment pic.twitter.com/AaL1SO9rbR
— elise | armand pr crisis manager (@bisexualcrises) March 3, 2025
David Lynch literally changed cinema and THATS ALL THEY'RE GIVING HIM ? pic.twitter.com/75Kmq7HQa5
— Liv 🇵🇸 (@bisexualbozo) March 3, 2025
Should have done more for David Lynch.
— Brian Haley (@brianchaley) March 3, 2025
Particular criticism was levelled towards the decision to include a segment dedicated to the legacy of James Bond – a franchise that was not nominated this year, nor has had a new film since 2021’s No Time To Die – instead of dedicating one to Lynch.
“makes me sad seeing James Bond get this 10 minute segment but then David Lynch gets a 10 second in memoriam clip like…that dude forever changed the fuckin entertainment world bro. he deserved a lot more than that”, one user tweeted.
i know the Oscars are bullshit blah blah but idk
makes me sad seeing James Bond get this 10 minute segment but then David Lynch gets a 10 second in memoriam clip like…that dude forever changed the fuckin entertainment world bro. he deserved a lot more than that.
— Ash @ Comms Closed (@SantanaelChan) March 3, 2025
all that james bond tribute when we could’ve gotten a full david lynch one pic.twitter.com/sbTk30e74v
— tay (@hairball1952) March 3, 2025
The music choice for the segment was also met with confusion by viewers, with one calling the decision to use ‘Lacrimosa’ as “fucking insane”.
sorry this in memoriam music choice is fucking insane. just do wiz khalifa again
— demi adejuyigbe (@electrolemon) March 3, 2025
why are they playing such scary music during the in memoriam? this should have been angels by robbie williams #Oscars pic.twitter.com/jkkXx027C3
— k8ie (@taerights) March 3, 2025
Isabella Rosselllini, who competed last night in the Best Supporting Actress category for Conclave, showed up to the ceremony in a blue velvet dress, which users pointed out was a likely tribute to Lynch – the two worked together on his breakout 1986 film Blue Velvet.
Isabella Rossellini is wearing a Blue Velvet dress for David Lynch😭 pic.twitter.com/kc4VscEFRm
— Jillian🫧 (@JillianChili) March 2, 2025
A "Blue Velvet" reunion! Laura Dern and Isabella Rossellini pose together on the #Oscars red carpet https://t.co/AJL1Z6wFn1 pic.twitter.com/6eEuqSAmKV
— Variety (@Variety) March 2, 2025
reporting live from italian tv isabella rossellini is wearing blue velvet for david lynch 💙 and she is wearing her mother's earrings from when she won the oscar for best supporting actress in murder on the orient express pic.twitter.com/WaZaEmwuBf
— h` (@HELEBING_) March 2, 2025
Tributes had poured in from all over the entertainment industry since Lynch’s passing in January. Legendary director Steven Spielberg described him as “an original and unique voice”, recalling their work together on The Fabelmans.
Among the other celebrities to have paid tribute to Lynch are Dern, Nicolas Cage, Edgar Wright, James Gunn, Hugh Jackman, Billy Corgan, Questlove – you can see more tributes here.
Lynch’s fans, too, were quick to pay tribute to him, with some holding a “worldwide group meditation” in his honour, while figures in the gaming industry have also posted about the director’s influence on some of the most popular games in history.
In NME’s tribute to the late director, Mark Beaumont wrote that the “very word ‘Lynchian’ – denoting a kind of carnivalesque dark surrealism; sometimes fantastical, sometimes macabre, sometimes dreamlike, often eerily everyday – will forever pay tribute to the work of one of cinema’s finest ever auteurs.”
The 97th Academy Awards were hosted by Conan O’Brien for the first time, the comedian taking over duties from Jimmy Kimmel.
Anora proved the big winner, taking home five awards including Best Picture, Best Actress for Mikey Madison, Best Director for Sean Baker, Best Original Screenplay and Best Editing.
The Brutalist followed behind with three, including Best Actor for Adrien Brody, Best Original Score and Best Cinematography, while Dune: Part Two, Wicked and Emilia Perez took two each. See the full list here.
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