Esteemed author Stephen King has called for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to cancel the 97th annual Oscars award ceremony in light of the devastating wildfires still ravaging Los Angeles. As reported by Deadline, King announced he is not voting in the awards this year and believes they should be cancelled altogether, stating there's "no glitz" in Los Angeles amid the fires. The wildfires, which began on January 7, have tragically claimed at least 27 lives and continue to burn.
"Not voting in the Oscars this year," King stated in a Bluesky post. "In my honest opinion, they should cancel them. No glitz with Los Angeles on fire."
The Academy announced on January 13 that it was adapting its 2025 schedule due to the fires, although there has been no word on cancelling the event entirely. The Oscars nominee luncheon was cancelled, however. The voting period was extended to January 17, while the nominations announcement has been rescheduled for 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."
