Stephen King wants the Oscars canceled in light of the Los Angeles wildfires
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Stephen King at the premiere of 'The Life of Chuck' at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival.
Stephen King has expressed his opposition to the Academy Awards going ahead as planned this year, particularly given the ongoing devastation caused by wildfires in Los Angeles. The celebrated horror author, known for his outspoken views, took to social media platform Bluesky on Thursday to voice his stance, stating, “Not voting in the Oscars this year. IMHO they should cancel them. No glitz with Los Angeles on fire.”
King’s remarks come amid a crisis in Southern California, where wildfires have ravaged large areas, including parts of Los Angeles County. The disaster has sparked widespread concern, with many in the entertainment industry questioning whether it’s appropriate to proceed with major celebrations such as the Oscars, given the scale of the destruction.
In response to the ongoing wildfires, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which organizes the Oscars, announced that it would extend the voting deadline for the awards until January 17. The announcement for the nominees has been rescheduled to January 23, recognizing the challenges faced by voters in the midst of the crisis. Despite these adjustments, the show itself remains scheduled to take place on March 2.
King isn’t the only celebrity to raise concerns about the Oscars amid the wildfires. Actresses Jean Smart and Patricia Arquette have also publicly suggested that Hollywood’s awards season might need to be put on hold. Both actors have highlighted the severity of the wildfires and questioned whether celebrating the industry’s achievements is appropriate while so many people are suffering.
While some individuals within the entertainment industry believe that continuing with the Oscars and other awards shows could offer a much-needed source of positivity and hope, King is unconvinced. He responded to those defending the Oscars in a second post on Friday, acknowledging their arguments but maintaining his position. “I hear what you guys are saying about the Oscars, and how they’re a celebration of life, and the show must go on, blah-blah-blah, so-on-and-so-forth,” King wrote. “It all makes a degree of sense, but to me it still feels like Nero fiddling while Rome burns. Or in this case, wearing fancy clothes while LA burns.”
King’s comparison to the infamous Roman Emperor Nero, who was famously accused of playing music while Rome burned, emphasizes his belief that continuing with lavish events in the face of widespread devastation feels tone-deaf and inappropriate. He argues that the spectacle of Hollywood’s biggest night — traditionally associated with glamour and excess — is starkly out of step with the reality of the crisis in Los Angeles.
Despite King’s criticism and the calls from other figures in the entertainment world to reconsider, both the Grammys and the Oscars are still scheduled to take place as planned. The 2025 Grammys are slated for February 2, and the Oscars will occur on March 2, with both events drawing significant attention from both the public and the media.
As the wildfires continue to ravage Los Angeles and its surrounding areas, the debate over whether large-scale celebrations should continue will likely intensify. While some see the events as a necessary distraction from the ongoing devastation, others, like Stephen King, argue that the focus should be on the crisis itself, rather than on glamorous ceremonies. For now, it remains to be seen whether the Academy or other organizations will reconsider their plans in the wake of these ongoing disasters.
In conclusion, Stephen King’s refusal to participate in the Oscars this year reflects a broader sense of unease within Hollywood about the appropriateness of continuing awards shows in light of the tragic wildfires. His comments have sparked a conversation about the role of the entertainment industry in times of crisis and whether the usual celebrations of success should be put on hold to acknowledge the suffering taking place just outside the glamourous world of Tinseltown.
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