Fawcett's Friends Refuse Oscars Apology

The Charlie's Angels star, who lost her battle with cancer last year (09), was not included on the In Memoriam list at the show on Sunday (07Mar10), which honours stars who have died in the last 12 months.

The snub sparked outrage, and executive director of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Bruce Davis, subsequently apologised, saying "There's nothing you can say to people, particularly to family members, within a day or two of the show that helps at all".

But Fawcett's friends Stewart and Spelling are still berating Oscars chiefs over the decision, and for excluding late stars Bea Arthur and Jean Barry from the list but including Michael Jackson - even though he was better known for his music.

Spelling tells U.S. talk show host Larry King, "I was very surprised. I also was surprised with Jean Barry and Bea Arthur. Bea Arthur was excluded. She was in at Annie Mame, with Lucille Ball, not the original one. She did another film or two. Because she was so well known as Maude and Golden Girls, they thought she was more television."

Stewart adds, "I think they are saying they are sorry that family members and friends are upset. It is not just family members and friends. I said that to Mr. Davis, in all due respect, today. I said, it is millions of fans. The minute she was not part of that memorial, it started on Twitter. The emails I've gotten, people are outraged by it...

"I just want to make one point. In all due respect, Michael Jackson is a huge music icon, but I believe he only did one movie."

And Van Patten, who starred with Fawcett in 2000 film The Flunky, is refusing to accept Academy Awards bosses' apology, insisting the snub "is unforgivable."