Oscars 2025 ceremony at risk of cancellation amid devastating LA wildfires

The 2025 Oscars ceremony, originally scheduled for March 2, is now in jeopardy due to the ongoing wildfires in Los Angeles, which have claimed over 24 lives and displaced thousands. This marks an unprecedented situation as the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences grapples with the challenges posed by the natural disaster.

Nominations Delayed Amid Crisis

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The announcement of Oscar nominations has already faced multiple delays:

  • Initially scheduled for January 17, nominations were first postponed to January 19 and later rescheduled for January 23.
  • The Academy has extended the voting period for nominations until January 19, citing the impact of the wildfires on its members and the broader community.

Statements from the Academy

Academy CEO Bill Kramer and President Janet Yang issued a joint statement expressing their sorrow over the ongoing crisis:
“We are all devastated by the impact of the fires and the profound losses experienced by so many in our 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.”

Impact on Related Events

Other significant industry events have also been disrupted, including:

  • Writers Guild of America Awards: Nominee announcements have been postponed indefinitely.
  • British Academy of Film and TV Arts Tea Party, AFI Awards Luncheon, and Critics Choice Awards: These events have also been delayed.

Oscars Cancellation History

While the Oscars ceremony has been delayed several times in the past—such as during the 1938 Los Angeles floods, the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in 1968, and the attempted assassination of President Ronald Reagan in 1981—it has never been outright canceled. Even during the COVID-19 pandemic, the ceremony was held in a scaled-down format.

The Academy is expected to make a final decision regarding the 2025 Oscars ceremony in the coming weeks as the situation in Los Angeles continues to evolve.