The LA wildfires may end up cancelling the 2025 Oscars. It could be the first time in 96 years that this prestigious event might not happen. At least 25 people have been reported killed as a result of the devastating California wildfires, and as the situation worsens, it might take even more lives. More than 200,000 residents have been asked to leave their homes. Meanwhile, 88,000 are still under evacuation orders.
The Oscars committee has been keeping a close eye on the issue, which includes some of the world's top celebrities, such as Tom Hanks, Emma Stone, Meryl Streep, and Steven Spielberg.
According to The Sun, an insider expressed that the Academy's main priority is to conduct the function in a sensitive manner since a large number of people are facing great losses in Los Angeles. Even if the fires go out next week, this tragedy will leave its imprint on the city and continue to inflict its wounds for months to come. That's why the onus is more on making the most appropriate efforts: assisting victims and gathering money to alleviate disaster-related hardship when appropriate.
The Oscars were once affected in the past by the 9/11 attacks, but this would be the first time in nearly a century that the event is at risk because of a natural disaster. Several celebrities have lost their homes in the wildfires, including Paris Hilton, Mel Gibson, Anthony Hopkins, Billy Crystal, and others. This might worsen when more get affected in the coming days.
The Academy has already cancelled some of the key events, like the luncheon of nominees, where they have traditionally been taking a group photo and then enjoying a three-course meal. Since the scale of the Oscars is enormous, with hundreds of millions of dollars spent on the production, moving or postponing the ceremony would incur serious financial consequences.
Given that the situation is still grim, it is pretty clear that the Academy is more concerned with how it can assist people affected by the disaster than about having a celebration. The postponement or cancellation would depend on the situation of the crisis in the following weeks.
As the fires continue to rage, so too will the wider impact on local communities, the entertainment industry, and the economy.