Stephen King Says the Oscars Should Be Cancelled Amid Los Angeles Wildfires

Esteemed author Stephen King has made a poignant call for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to cancel the 97th annual Oscars award ceremony amid the devastating wildfires still ravaging Los Angeles. As reported by Deadline, King announced he would not be voting in the awards this year and strongly believes they should be cancelled due to the ongoing crisis. With at least 27 fatalities resulting from the fires that started on January 7 and continue to burn, King expressed on Bluesky that there's "no glitz" in Los Angeles under these dire circumstances.

In response to the situation, the Academy announced on January 13 adjustments to its 2025 schedule, though there has been no official word on cancelling the ceremony entirely. The Oscars nominee luncheon has been cancelled, and the voting period was extended to January 17, with the nominations announcement now scheduled for January 23. The 97th Oscars ceremony is still set to take place on March 2.

Academy CEO Bill Kramer and president Janet Yang issued a statement alongside the schedule changes, expressing their devastation over the fires and the profound losses experienced by the community. They emphasized the Academy's role as a unifying force within the film industry and its commitment to standing together during these challenging times.