Oscars 2025 to be cancelled amid California wildfires? Here's what we know

The California wildfires, which has created a sense of despair across the United States, has led to uncertainty about the upcoming Academy Awards. Recently, a section of media reported that the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Science is considering a plan to cancel the prestigious ceremony, which is held every year in March. A report also claimed that a committee has been formed for the purpose. However, a story by The Hollywood Reporter has now dismissed such claims with sources stating that the Academy will go ahead with the prestigious ceremony. The event is currently slated to be held on March 2.

However, the Oscar nominations, which were slated to be announced on January 17, has been pushed back almost a week from their original date amid the ongoing California wildfires. PTI quoted the Academy of Motion Pictures and said the nominations will now be announced on January 23, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences said.

“We are all devastated by the impact of the fires and the profound losses experienced by so many in our community, Academy CEO Bill Kramer and Academy President Janet Yang said in a joint statement. The Academy has always been a unifying force within the film industry, and we are committed to standing together in the face of hardship. The Scientific and Technical Awards, previously set for February 18, will be rescheduled later. Oscar nominations were postponed in 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic. The ceremony itself was also delayed, which had happened several times before: The ceremony was pushed back a week because of disastrous flooding in Los Angeles in 1938. In 1968, it was delayed two days following the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. And in 1981, it was put off for 24 hours after President Ronald Reagan was shot in Washington D.C.