Stephen King Calls for Oscars Cancellation Amid LA Wildfires

Esteemed author Stephen King has called for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to cancel the 97th annual Oscars award ceremony due to the ongoing wildfires devastating Los Angeles. As reported by Deadline, King stated he would not be voting in this year's awards and believes they should be canceled entirely, citing the lack of "glitz" in Los Angeles amid the fires. The wildfires, which started on January 7, have tragically claimed at least 27 lives and continue to burn.

"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."

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

In response to the fires, the Academy announced on January 13 adjustments to its 2025 schedule, though there has been no decision to cancel the ceremony outright. The Oscars nominee luncheon was canceled, and the voting period was extended until January 17. The nominations announcement is now scheduled for January 23, with the 97th Oscars ceremony set to proceed as planned 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 Academy 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."