Esteemed author Stephen King has urged the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to cancel the 97th annual Oscars award ceremony due to the ongoing wildfires devastating Los Angeles. As reported by Deadline, King stated he would not be voting in the awards this year and suggested they should be canceled entirely, pointing out that there's "no glitz" in a city engulfed by flames. The wildfires, which started on January 7, have tragically claimed at least 27 lives and continue to rage.
"Not voting in the Oscars this year," King declared in a Bluesky post. "In my honest opinion, they should cancel them. No glitz with Los Angeles on fire."
In response to the fires, the Academy announced on January 13 that it would adjust its 2025 schedule, though there has been no official word on canceling the ceremony. The Oscars nominee luncheon was canceled, however. The voting period has been extended to January 17, and the nominations will now be announced on January 23. The 97th Oscars ceremony is still set to take place on March 2.
"We are all devastated by the impact of the fires and the profound losses experienced by so many in our community," said CEO Bill Kramer and president Janet Yang in a statement accompanying the schedule changes. "The Academy has always been a unifying force within the film industry, and we are committed to standing together in the face of hardship."
