Every year, the Oscars come under fire for some glaring omissions during the In Memoriam segment, and this year’s ceremony was no exception.

Fans were outraged when stars like Eric Dane and James Van Der Beek were left out of the memorial segment dedicated to stars who passed away in the last year, including moving tributes to Rob and Michele Reiner, Diane Keaton and Robert Redford.

And now, the exec in charge of the Oscars telecast is explaining the omissions.

Keep reading to find out more…

Rob Mills, Walt Disney Television executive vice president of unscripted and alternative entertainment in charge of the Oscars telecast, got candid in a recap interview following this year’s ceremony.

“It is hard. I think it’s the hardest thing they possibly do,” he said to Variety of The Academy’s decision about who to feature each year.

“It always is hard when they are sort of villainized for this. Yes, there’s always people who are left out. Unfortunately, we’re losing more and more people, and especially, we’re losing legendary people every year, so it is probably the hardest needle to thread. I do think what they did last night might have been the best In Memoriam in the history of the Oscars.”

A source tells Us Weekly that the Academy “receives hundreds of requests to include loved ones and industry colleagues,” so an “executive committee” is formed with members from every branch of the Academy.

Those committee members review the list and make “recommendations for the telecast based on limited available time,” and if the names don’t make broadcast, they are featured on the Oscars website along with all of the submissions for the year.

Find out which names were left off the In Memoriam.