Esteemed author Stephen King has publicly called for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to cancel the 97th annual Oscars award ceremony due to the ongoing wildfires ravaging Los Angeles. As reported by Deadline, King announced he would not be participating in the voting for this year's awards and strongly believes the event should be cancelled, stating that there's "no glitz" in a city engulfed by flames. The devastating fires, which started on January 7, have tragically claimed at least 27 lives and continue to burn.
"Not voting in the Oscars this year," King declared on Bluesky. "In my honest opinion, they should cancel them. No glitz with Los Angeles on fire."
Stephen King. Image credit: Matthew Tsang / Getty Images.
In response to the crisis, the Academy announced on January 13 adjustments to its 2025 schedule, though no decision has been made to cancel the Oscars entirely. The Oscars nominee luncheon has been cancelled, reflecting the seriousness of the situation. Voting, which was originally set to conclude earlier, has been extended until today, January 17, and the nominations announcement is now scheduled for January 23. The 97th Oscars ceremony is still set to proceed on March 2 as planned.
In a joint statement, Academy CEO Bill Kramer and president Janet Yang expressed their deep sorrow over the impact of the fires and the significant losses suffered by the community. "The Academy has always been a unifying force within the film industry, and we are committed to standing together in the face of hardship," they said, emphasizing their resolve to support the community during these challenging times.
