Stephen King, 77, urged ‘reconsider’ as he sparks fierce debate after calling for Oscars BOYCOTT amid LA fires
Stephen King has announced he will not participate in voting for this year’s Academy Awards, calling for the ceremony’s cancellation amid devastating Los Angeles wildfires.
The bestselling author took to social media platform Bluesky to voice his opposition to the 97th Academy Awards proceeding as planned.
“Not voting in the Oscars this year. IMHO they should cancel them. No glitz with Los Angeles on fire,” wrote the 77-year-old novelist.
The statement from King, who has seen numerous works adapted into Oscar-winning films, comes as the Academy grapples with mounting pressure to reconsider holding its annual celebration while Southern California battles one of its most destructive natural disasters in history.
The fires have claimed at least 25 lives across Los Angeles, with two major blazes continuing to burn through Altadena and Pacific Palisades.
The largest blaze has consumed more than 23,000 acres in the Palisades area.
Several Hollywood stars have lost their homes, including Mel Gibson, Miles Teller, Jeff Bridges, Billy Crystal, Jamie Chung and Bryan Greenberg.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has responded by reallocating £250,000 from its nominees luncheon to wildfire relief efforts.
Academy CEO Bill Kramer stated the ceremony must proceed to “support our film community and to use our global platform to bring attention to these critical moments in our history”.
Other celebrities have joined King’s call for the ceremony’s cancellation.
Not voting in the Oscars this year. IMHO they should cancel them. No glitz with Los Angeles on fire.
— Stephen King (@stephenking.bsky.social) January 15, 2025 at 3:44 PM
Hacks star Jean Smart urged television networks to consider not broadcasting any award shows during “Hollywood’s season of celebration”.
Smart suggested networks should instead donate their revenue to fire victims and firefighters.
However, King was soon met with rather disgruntled reaction from his Bluesky followers for his stance, with many suggesting it’s short-sighted towards workers who may need the ceremony for employment.
One user hit back at King: “Please reconsider. The Oscars are over a month away. I think by then it could be helpful to proceed with it. LA took a huge hit. The Oscars could be a vehicle to raise funds and lift spirits.”
“Nah we need a distraction and LA needs the $ let them party,” a second added before a third weighed in: “People rely on it for their job. It should happen, but with donated proceeds.”
“The city needs them – even if you don’t,” a fourth hit out while a fifth similarly slammed King: “By cancelling them Academy would be hurting below the line workers in the industry even more. People in LA want to work – even more so now.” (sic)
Elsewhere, actress Rosanna Arquette offered an alternative perspective, proposing the ceremony be transformed into a fundraising event.
“This year, it’s not just about celebrating art,” Arquette told Variety. “It’s about using art to rebuild, inspire and help those who need it most.”
She suggested integrating a “Jerry Lewis-style telethon” with the Oscars, noting that Billy Crystal, who lost his home in the fires, would be “the perfect person to unite the room”.
The Academy has made several adjustments to its awards schedule due to the ongoing fires.
The nominations announcement, originally planned for January 17, has been pushed to January 23 and will be held virtually without media coverage.
The annual Oscar Nominees Luncheon, scheduled for February 10, has been cancelled.
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The Academy will donate its £1 million total contribution to the Motion Picture & Television Fund for wildfire relief.
Despite these changes, the main ceremony remains scheduled for Sunday, March 2, at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood.
Academy leadership stated they are “determined to use this opportunity to celebrate our resilient and compassionate industry” whilst honouring frontline workers who battled the fires.
King has sold more than 400 million books worldwide throughout his career.
His works have frequently been adapted for the screen, with notable films including Carrie, The Shining, Stand by Me,Misery, and The Shawshank Redemption.
The author’s relationship with Hollywood spans decades, with many of his adaptations receiving Academy Award recognition.
His most recent work to be adapted is the short story The Monkey, which arrives in cinemas on February 21, starring Theo James and Tatiana Maslany.
The film follows twin brothers who must confront a series of horrifying deaths linked to their father’s toy monkey, which they discovered in their childhood.