Stephen King's Oscars Cancellation Plea: A Controversial Call

Stephen King sparked debate by suggesting the Oscars should be canceled due to the Los Angeles wildfires. On the social platform Bluesky, he wrote, “Not voting in the Oscars this year. I think they should cancel them. No glitz while LA is on fire. ” The Academy, however, has no plans to cancel the March 2 ceremony, considering it a chance to raise funds for fire relief. Previously, Hacks star Jean Smart also proposed canceling the awards and donating the revenue to victims and firefighters. Both King and Smart’s suggestions faced backlash. Some argued that canceling the show would hurt workers who’ve already faced pay issues during the pandemic and union negotiations. Others saw the Oscars as a needed distraction from daily struggles. The Academy intends to proceed, aiming to support fire relief efforts in a dignified manner.