EW has learned that tensions were high after the “Stand by Me” star was left out of the Academy Awards’ upcoming tribute to the late filmmaker.

Corey Feldman alleges Oscars left him out of planned Rob Reiner tribute: ‘They don’t need me there’

EW has learned that tensions were high after the "Stand by Me" star was left out of the Academy Awards' upcoming tribute to the late filmmaker.

Joey Nolfi is a senior writer at *. *Since 2016, his work at EW includes *RuPaul's Drag Race* video interviews, Oscars predictions, and more.

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March 9, 2026 10:52 a.m. ET

Corey Feldman; Rob Reiner; Feldman in 'Stand by Me'. Credit:

Paul Archuleta/Getty (2);Columbia Pictures

Corey Feldman has publicly spoken out about what he said is a planned Oscars tribute to his *Stand By Me *director, Rob Reiner. ** learned that tensions soared after the actor discovered the Academy Awards didn't invite him to participate in a segment honoring the late filmmaker.

Feldman, 54, addressed speculation about the upcoming Oscars ceremony early Monday on social media, where he released an all-caps statement on the matter.

"I JUST WANT 2 BRIEFLY MENTION THIS WHOLE OSCARS THING! YES ITS TRUE THAT I WAS NOT INVITED, I UNDERSTAND MANY BELIEVE ITS DUE 2 BEING OUTSPOKEN ABOUT THE ABUSE I SUFFERED AS A CHILD & THE CAMPAIGN 2 SILENCE ME," Feldman alleges.

Rob Reiner and wife Michele Singer Reiner.

Eric Charbonneau/Getty

He continued, "HOWEVER THIS ISNT ABOUT ME! ITS NOT MY MOMENT @ ALL! ITS ABOUT THE TRAGIC LOSS OF R FRIEND ROB REINER & HIS MEMORY. SO AS MUCH I APPRECIATE ALL SUPPORT, ITS VERY SWEET OF U."

He then urged fans to "PLEASE STOP" and to "PLEASE TAKE DOWN ANY PETITIONS 2 PUSH 4 MY PRESENCE @ THE AWARDS. THEY DONT NEED ME THERE."

Feldman speculated that the show's producers will "DO A FANTASTIC JOB" and urged his supporters to keep pressuring the United States government for the full release of the Jeffrey Epstein files.

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He ended the statement by promising, "ILL HONOR ROB MY OWN WAY." Reiner and his wife, Michele Singer Reiner, were found dead in their home on December 14, 2025. The couple's youngest son, Nick Reiner, was charged with two counts of first-degree murder in connection to their deaths. He recently pleaded not guilty.

Feldman's statement comes days after British newspaper *The Daily Mail* reported that Feldman was "furious" upon learning that he wasn't asked to participate in the Reiner tribute, which EW later confirmed through a source close to the situation.

The publication reported that the Oscars wanted "*When Harry Met Sally* stars Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal, as well as *Stand by Me* actors Jerry O'Connell and Wil Wheaton to come together celebrate the late director" at Sunday's show — an alleged move that "devastated" Feldman.

Wil Wheaton, River Phoenix, Jerry O'Connell, Corey Feldman in 'Stand by Me'.

Columbia Pictures

EW has reached out to representatives for Feldman, Wheaton, O'Connell, and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for comment.

Feldman has long spoken out in support of survivors of sexual abuse. The 2020 documentary *(My) Truth: The Rape of Two Coreys* includes allegations of sexual assault, with Feldman reporting that he and the Corey Haim were victimized as child stars.

"Every person, every human being, has a right to their privacy, has a right to their body, has a right to be only touched and engaged when they choose to," he told EW in a 2024 interview. "I fight for human rights across the board. Women, children, animals, everybody has the right to be an independent and have their own voice and their own body and not be threatened by others who can't keep their hands on themselves."

The 2026 Oscars air Sunday on ABC.

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