The fate of the 97th Academy Awards hangs in the balance as devastating wildfires ravage Los Angeles, sparking intense debate over whether the prestigious event should proceed.
The king of horror fiction sparked debate this week over the upcoming Academy Awards ceremony and whether or not Hollywood’s biggest night should go on as California’s still reeling from devastating wildfires.
In a post on Bluesky the Twitter-alternative social media site, author Stephen King said he would not be voting as a member of the Academy this year. He further stated, “IMHO they should cancel them [the Oscars]. No glitz with Los Angeles on fire.”
Reports suggest that numerous celebrities have called for the cancellation of the ceremony, as many Hollywood stars have been directly impacted by the fires. The wildfires, which struck just weeks before the awards were set to take place, have left many homeless and claimed several lives.
The Oscars are scheduled for March 2, 2025, with nominations initially slated to be announced on January 17. However, organizers have delayed the announcement until January 23, fueling speculation about the event’s potential cancellation.
Despite growing concerns, some members of the Oscars’ organizing committee have insisted that the ceremony will proceed as planned. However, a report in The Sun suggests that the Academy is considering scrapping the event altogether in light of the ongoing crisis.
As the situation unfolds, the Academy faces mounting pressure to balance the importance of the event with the ongoing humanitarian and environmental challenges posed by the wildfires.
