Hulk Hogan fans and other viewers criticized the 77th Primetime Emmy Awards on Sunday after the televised in memoriam segment did not include the wrestling icon, who died in July at age 71, and Parks and Recreation actor Jonathan Joss, who was fatally shot in June.
Several viewers posted on social media about the omissions. One user on X wrote, "Hulk Hogan got snubbed at the Emmys memoriam." Another posted, "No mention of Hulk Hogan during the In Memoriam segment at the Emmys. Disgraceful. Brother was on TV for 40 years!" A separate post called the exclusion of Joss "disrespectful and cruel." Joss was 59 when he was fatally shot in Texas after a disagreement with a neighbor in June.
The Emmys' on-screen tribute included images of a number of entertainers who died over the past year. Performers Vince Gill and Lainey Wilson sang "Go Rest High on That Mountain" as photos of the deceased were shown on the large screen. Among those honored were Black Sabbath frontman Ozzy Osbourne; composer and producer Quincy Jones; actors Loni Anderson, John Amos and Julian McMahon; director David Lynch; and George Wendt. The show also featured images of Maggie Smith and Michelle Trachtenberg.
Actress Phylicia Rashad delivered a memorial during the ceremony, remembering her late former costar Malcolm-Jamal Warner, who drowned on July 20 at Playa Cocles in Costa Rica. Rashad, 77, said Warner "was a beloved teenager in an iconic television series" and added, "Even though they may no longer be here with us, we can all smile, knowing that their impact will remain." Costa Rican authorities later confirmed Warner's death was accidental and due to asphyxia from submersion.
Producers did not address on air why some names were omitted from the montage. The in memoriam segment traditionally does not, and cannot, include every person who worked in television, and programs vary in how they select which individuals to feature. Television Academy officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment Sunday.
The broadcast also drew attention for its limited acknowledgement of other recent deaths outside the entertainment industry. The assassination of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk, who was killed while speaking on a Utah college campus on Sept. 10, was not mentioned during the broadcast, and none of the celebrity speakers at the Peacock Theater at L.A. Live referenced the attack.
Political statements were made elsewhere during the telecast. Hannah Einbinder closed her acceptance speech for supporting actress in a comedy with a political salute. Actor Javier Bardem urged viewers on the red carpet to support a pledge by entertainment workers related to the Israel–Gaza conflict. Comic Megan Stalter displayed the phrase "Cease Fire!" on a purse during the arrival line. Daniel O'Brien, a senior writer for Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, referenced concerns about late-night political comedy in an acceptance speech for writing.
Social media reactions to the in memoriam decisions reflected a broader debate about which figures merit inclusion in televised tributes and how award shows balance length and representation. Organizers said the segment was intended to honor the memory and contributions of those pictured, while viewers noted other recent deaths they expected to see acknowledged.