As the daughter of American film and television producer Aaron Spelling, Tori Spelling was always destined for a life in the spotlight. She is one of the most open celebrities, sharing much of her life with her fans, including the good, the bad, and sometimes the ugly! This has endeared her to many, earning her a loyal fanbase who are eager to hear what she has to say … and what she has to say is that the 2025 Oscars got it so wrong!
The award season is filled with prestigious events to celebrate achievements in the entertainment industry, and taking home a trophy at the Academy Awards is the most sought-after accolade of all. However, Spelling was left feeling incredibly disappointed when the ceremony chose to leave out her former co-star and friend, Shannen Doherty, from their “In Memoriam” segment (she passed away from cancer on March 31, 2024).
Spelling made her feelings known during a chat on the Let’s Be Clear podcast via People, saying, “I have to say it was shocking, truly shocking.” She continued, “Because to me, I discovered Shannen as a fan on the big screen. While she was so iconically known for her TV roles, which I want to honor her and go through her career today, but it’s really the big screen where her career just thrived. And she just lit up the big screen going back to when she was a kid.”
Tori Spelling Is Hurt That The Oscars Chose Not To Honor Shannen Doherty
Spelling knew Doherty personally, having starred on Beverly Hills, 90210, alongside her in the ‘90s. She acknowledged the late actress’s reach and referred to her as someone “iconic to fans across the world.”
Spelling felt it was “shocking” that Doherty had not been included in the segment (while acknowledging that there are many people to choose from, and she was unsure of the criteria involved in doing so).
For Spelling, Doherty’s inclusion also felt personal, and she referred to it as “triggering.” She continued, “This is the third person that I love that has been left out of the ‘In Memoriam.’ The year my dad passed, I remember he was left out of it. And then, ironically, the year that Luke Perry passed, he was left out of it.” Aaron Spelling died in 2006, and Luke Perry died in 2019. This is something that the Scary Movie 2 actress feels very strongly about.
“But it’s not like Shannen could have been an oversight,” she explained. “It just felt for all of us watching that loved her and loved her work, it felt like not only was she robbed, but we were robbed.”
Doherty had 2.2 million followers on Instagram, so she did have reach, but she also starred in some of the most iconic sitcoms, including Charmed and Beverly Hills, 90210. She was also celebrated for her earlier work in Mallrats and Heathers. Did the Oscars do her wrong with their exclusion?
