Stephen King Urges Oscars Cancellation Due to LA Wildfires

Esteemed author Stephen King has urged the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to cancel the upcoming 97th annual Oscars amid the devastating wildfires that continue to ravage Los Angeles.

According to a report by Deadline, King announced that he would not be participating in the voting for this year's awards and believes the ceremony should be called off entirely due to the ongoing crisis. The fires, which started on January 7, have tragically claimed at least 27 lives and are still burning.

"Not voting in the Oscars this year," King stated 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 wildfires, the Academy announced on January 13 that it would adjust its 2025 schedule, though no decision has been made to cancel the event entirely. The Oscars nominee luncheon has been canceled, and the voting period has been extended to January 17. The nominations announcement is now scheduled for January 23, with the 97th Oscars ceremony set to proceed on March 2 as originally planned.

"We are all devastated by the impact of the fires and the profound losses experienced by so many in our community," said 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."