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

Renowned author Stephen King urges the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to postpone the 97th annual Academy Awards ceremony due to the ongoing devastating wildfires in Los Angeles. As reported by Deadline, King declared his abstention from this year's awards voting, advocating for a compl

By Matthew: Feb 18,2025

Renowned author Stephen King urges the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to postpone the 97th annual Academy Awards ceremony due to the ongoing devastating wildfires in Los Angeles.

As reported by Deadline, King declared his abstention from this year's awards voting, advocating for a complete cancellation, citing the lack of celebratory atmosphere amidst the ongoing crisis. The wildfires, which began on January 7th, have tragically claimed at least 27 lives and continue to rage.

"Not voting in the Oscars this year," King stated in a Bluesky post. "In my view, they should be cancelled. There's no festive spirit with Los Angeles ablaze."

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

The Academy responded on January 13th by adjusting its 2025 schedule in light of the fires; however, a complete cancellation remains unannounced. The Oscars nominee luncheon has been cancelled.

The voting deadline has been extended to January 17th, with the nominations announcement rescheduled for January 23rd. The 97th Academy Awards ceremony is still scheduled for March 2nd.

"We are deeply saddened by the impact of the fires and the significant losses suffered by many in our community," CEO Bill Kramer and president Janet Yang stated, commenting on the schedule adjustments. "The Academy has always been a unifying force in the film industry, and we are dedicated to supporting each other during this challenging time."