Stephen King Urges Oscars Cancellation Due to LA Wildfires

Esteemed author Stephen King has publicly called for the cancellation of the 97th annual Oscars amid the devastating wildfires that continue to ravage Los Angeles. In a statement reported by Deadline, King expressed his decision not to vote in this year's awards, emphasizing that the ongoing crisis strips away any sense of celebration. The wildfires, which started on January 7, have tragically claimed at least 27 lives and are still burning.

"Not voting in the Oscars this year," King stated on Bluesky. "In my honest opinion, they should cancel them. No glitz with Los Angeles on fire."

In response to the crisis, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced on January 13 adjustments to its 2025 schedule, though it has not yet decided to cancel the ceremony entirely. As a direct impact of the fires, the Oscars nominee luncheon was cancelled. The voting period has been extended until January 17, with the nominations to be announced on January 23. The 97th Oscars ceremony is still set to proceed as planned on March 2.

Academy CEO Bill Kramer and president Janet Yang expressed their deep sorrow over the fires' impact and the 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 stated, alongside the announcement of the revised schedule.