Emmys’ In Memoriam with Friends tribute left viewers “bursting into tears”

The 2024 Emmy Awards’ In Memoriam segment remembered those who were lost over the past year with a Friends tribute, leaving viewers at home “bursting into tears.”

With the 2024 awards season well and truly underway, all of the year’s biggest movies and shows have been celebrated over the past couple of weeks, from Oppenheimer and Barbie to Succession and The Bear. 

The latest Emmys is a little different, however – the TV awards ceremony usually takes place in September, but it had to be delayed due to the Hollywood strikes. Instead, the 2023 event was held last night (January 15), with the next one taking place in September as usual. 

While the Emmys is a time for celebration, it’s also for remembering those who died over the past year, and the latest In Memoriam had viewers feeling emotional. 

Emmys’ In Memoriam with Friends tribute left viewers “sobbing”

The 2023 Emmys’ In Memoriam saw singer Charlie Puth and songwriter duo The War and Treaty perform a rendition of Puth’s ‘See You Again’ before segueing into an emotional version of the Friends theme tune, ‘I’ll Be There for You’ by The Rembrandts. 

The song choice was a tribute to Chandler Bing star Matthew Perry, who died in October 2023. Others who were remembered include Brooklyn Nine-Nine star Andre Braugher, Stephen “tWitch” Boss, Euphoria’s Angus Cloud, and John Wick icon Lance Reddick.

Taking to X/Twitter, one viewer wrote, “Charlie Puth singing the Friends theme song for the ‘in memoriam’ at the #emmys?! Are you trying to make me sob?” Another said, “Burst into tears when #AndreBraugher appeared on the In Memoriam at the #Emmys.”

“Okay that In Memoriam part of the #Emmys really got me,” added a third, while a fourth wrote, “Ngl I read the tweet, thought it’d be bad, and now I’m sobbing.” And a fifth chimed in: “Lot of talent lost, RIP. Reminds you don’t take for granted the time you do have.”