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

Esteemed author Stephen King has publicly urged the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to cancel the 97th annual Oscars ceremony in light of the devastating wildfires that continue to ravage Los Angeles. As reported by Deadline, King, who announced he would not be voting in this year's awards, believes that holding the event amidst such tragedy is inappropriate. He stated on Bluesky, "Not voting in the Oscars this year. In my honest opinion, they should cancel them. No glitz with Los Angeles on fire."

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

The wildfires, which started on January 7, have claimed at least 27 lives and are still burning. In response to the crisis, the Academy announced on January 13 adjustments to its 2025 schedule, though there has been no mention of completely canceling the Oscars. The nominee luncheon was canceled, and the voting period was extended until January 17, with the nominations announcement rescheduled for January 23. The 97th Oscars ceremony is still set to occur on March 2.

Academy CEO Bill Kramer and president Janet Yang expressed their solidarity with the affected community, stating, "We are all devastated by the impact of the fires and the profound losses experienced by so many in our 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."