The 2026 Academy Awards made headlines for a number of reasons, both good and bad. Among them, one of the controversies that had everyone talking was the In Memoriam segment. The omission of several notable film personalities across the world, including Dharmendra, led to the show’s producers facing massive backlash. Amid the growing flak, broadcast executive Rob Mills, who oversees the telecast, reacted to the criticism, defending the segment.

Oscars producers on the In Memorium section

During an interview with Variety, Rob Mills, Walt Disney Television’s EVP of unscripted and alternative entertainment, went on to defend the decision to omit some names from the In Memoriam segment during the recent Oscars 2026 broadcast. Rob was questioned about the In Memoriam segment, which attracted criticism for leaving out several notable names.