The devastating Los Angeles wildfires have ravaged the city, leading to evacuations and loss of life. Today, according to a report in The Sun, the Academy Awards ceremony is set to be canceled for the first time in its 96-year history due to the deadly wildfires.
(Also read: 2025 Oscar nominations postponed, voting extended due to wildfires in Los Angeles)
Will the 2025 Oscars be canceled?
An insider told the news portal: “The board’s main concern right now is not looking like they’re celebrating when many Angelenos are dealing with unimaginable grief and loss.” Even if the fires subside over the next week, the reality is that the city is still suffering and will continue to deal with this pain for months. Therefore, the hierarchy decided that the focus would be on support and fundraising when the right opportunities presented themselves.
A secret “contingency strategy” put in place
Even when the world was in lockdown in 2021, the awards were postponed for two months rather than canceled. However, the official Oscars ceremony, led by stars including Tom Hanks, Emma Stone, Meryl Streep and Steven Spielberg, is now monitoring the situation in Los Angeles to decide whether the ceremony should be canceled due to the city’s devastation. The devastating wildfires prompted a secret “emergency strategy” to potentially cancel the ceremony. The last time such a strategy was implemented was after 9/11.
According to the report, even if the Oscars ceremony took place, goody bags worth £140,000 ($171,000) would be discarded. Previously, gifts included a three-night stay in the Swiss Alps, beauty treatments, jewelry and a barbecue worth £1,000 ($1,220). However, they are now deemed “in bad taste” by board members.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has extended the nominations voting period until January 17 and will now announce its nominees in a virtual event on Thursday, January 23. The Los Angeles wildfires have destroyed the homes of many stars, including Mandy Moore, Paris Hilton and others. So far, 25 people have lost their lives, and that figure is expected to rise as emergency services continue to search through the rubble.
