Stephen King Urges Oscars Cancellation Due to 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 in response to the devastating wildfires that continue to ravage Los Angeles. As reported by Deadline, King announced he would not be voting in the awards this year and strongly believes that the event should be canceled due to the ongoing crisis. The fires, which began on January 7, have tragically claimed at least 27 lives and are still burning.

"Not voting in the Oscars this year," King stated in a Bluesky post. "In my honest opinion, they should cancel them. No glitz with Los Angeles on fire."

In an effort to accommodate the situation, the voting period for the Oscars has been extended to January 17, while the nominations announcement is now scheduled for January 23. The 97th Oscars ceremony itself remains on track to take place on March 2.

Academy CEO Bill Kramer and president Janet Yang expressed their deep sorrow over the fires' impact and the significant losses endured by the 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," they stated alongside the announcement of the revised schedule.