*Holly Robinson Peete expressed disappointment with the 77th Primetime Emmy Awards for failing to include her late friend Dr. Danielle Spencer in the “In Memoriam” segment. Known for her iconic role as Dee Thomas on the sitcom “What’s Happening!!”, Spencer, a trailblazing actress and veterinarian, was overlooked during the September 14 broadcast.
As Ice Cream Convos reports, Peete voiced her frustration on Instagram, stating, “How could the Emmys forget to mention my friend Dr. Danielle Spencer, our beloved Dee Thomas from ‘What’s Happening!!’ in their ‘In Memoriam’??? She broke barriers, made us laugh, and inspired a generation. Make it make sense! To leave her out is not just an oversight, it’s an injustice to her legacy. We will honor her, even if they didn’t. ✊?”
The Emmys’ tribute featured icons like Maggie Smith, Teri Garr, Ozzy Osbourne, Loni Anderson, and Quincy Jones. However, fans noticed the absence of Spencer, along with other notable figures such as Val Kilmer, Gene Hackman, Terence Stamp, Polly Holliday, and Tony Todd.
In response to the backlash, the Television Academy clarified that time constraints limited the broadcast’s “In Memoriam” segment. They stated, “Every year, the Emmy Awards and the Creative Arts Emmy Awards ceremonies each present an In Memoriam video. Given only a few minutes to honor those who have passed, there is a limit on how many people can be acknowledged on the broadcasts.”
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The statement continued, “We’ve presented a more extensive video, listing the hundreds of names of television colleagues we’ve lost in the past year.”
This extended seven-minute video, posted on the Academy’s website, included Spencer, Kilmer, Hackman, Irv Gotti, Cissy Houston, and Ananda Lewis. Watch it here.
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