Stephen King Urges Oscar Cancellation Due to LA Wildfires

Esteemed author Stephen King has made a bold statement calling for the cancellation of the 97th annual Oscars amid the ongoing wildfires devastating Los Angeles. As reported by Deadline, King announced he would not be participating in the voting process for the awards this year and urged the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to cancel the ceremony altogether, citing the inappropriateness of "glitz" while the city is engulfed in flames. The wildfires, which began on January 7, have tragically claimed at least 27 lives and continue to rage on.

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

In response to the crisis, the Academy announced on January 13 that it would adjust its 2025 schedule due to the fires, although no decision has been made to cancel the event entirely. The Oscars nominee luncheon was canceled as part of these adjustments. The voting period, originally set to end earlier, has been extended to January 17, and the nominations announcement is now scheduled for January 23. The 97th Oscars ceremony itself remains on course 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," stated Academy CEO Bill Kramer and president Janet Yang in conjunction with 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."