Stephen King Urges Oscars Cancellation Due to LA Wildfires

Esteemed author Stephen King has urged the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to cancel the 97th annual Oscars award ceremony due to the ongoing wildfires ravaging Los Angeles.

According to Deadline, King announced he would not be participating in the voting for the awards this year and suggested they should be canceled entirely, citing the lack of "glitz" in the city amidst the fires. The devastating fires, which started on January 7, have claimed at least 27 lives and continue to burn.

"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."

Stephen King. Image credit: Matthew Tsang / Getty Images.

In response to the crisis, the Academy announced on January 13 that it was adjusting its 2025 schedule, though there has been no official statement regarding the complete cancellation of the event. The Oscars nominee luncheon has been canceled, and the voting period has been extended until January 17, with nominations now set to be announced on January 23. The 97th Oscars ceremony is still scheduled 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."