The Academy Awards ceremony is on the verge of being canceled for the first time in its 96-year history due to the deadly wildfires that have ravaged Los Angeles.
The official Oscar committee is monitoring the situation daily, and stars like Tom Hanks, Emma Stone, Meryl Streep and Steven Spielberg are said to be aware of the situation.
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For the first time in its 96-year history, the Academy Awards are on the brink of cancellationCredit: Getty
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In the wake of the deadly wildfires, the Academy Awards committee, with stars like Tom Hanks, above, is monitoring the situation dailyCredit: Getty
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Forest fires ravaged vast areas of the country and decimated homes
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The Pacific Palisades area of Los Angeles has been destroyed by fire – the homes of many A-list stars have been burned Credit: Getty
But the feeling is that it might be distasteful to continue the glittering barrel when dozens of people have died and thousands have been left homeless.
An insider said: “The board’s main concern at this point is not to look like they are celebrating while many Los Angelenos are dealing with heartbreak and unimaginable loss.
“And certainly, even if the fires are put out in the next week, the reality is that the city is still suffering and will be dealing with that pain for months to come.
“So the hierarchy has decided that the focus will be on support and fundraising when the right opportunities arise.”
At least 25 people have now died in the wildfires in California, although that number is expected to rise as emergency services search through the rubble.
More than 200,000 residents were forced to leave their homes, while 88,000 were still under evacuation orders last night.
Meanwhile, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s £12 million ($14.6 million) home in Montecito was on high alert last night as high winds threatened to blow fires in their direction.
Although the California dream is not dead yet, it is gradually dying
The destruction led to the introduction of a “contingency strategy” to cancel the Oscars ceremony on March 3 (GMT) – a measure first introduced in the early 2000s.
The highly classified plan could only be implemented if a “life-changing event” affected the broadcast.
It came after several other celebrity events were canceled in the last 72 hours.
Heartbreaking moment Jennifer Garner reveals her friend has died in devastating LA wildfires, death toll rises to 11
Last night a source said: “While the California dream is not dead yet, it is gradually dying. These wildfires completely devastated the country, uniting everyone from A-listers to waiters.
Worst case scenario
“And the very thought of a waiter, a low-paid innocent who has lost his home, serving delicate Wagyu burgers and sliced cucumber sandwiches to multi-millionaire movie stars doesn’t really add up.
“Homelessness is on the rise and there is an opioid epidemic. Right now, Los Angeles is at an absolutely critical moment in its history. That’s the nadir.
“After 9/11, the board and executive teams came up with an effective contingency strategy on how to deal with a life-changing event in the world or the city.
“Terrorist threats have been a priority for many years with discussions with Homeland Security, FBI, CIA and LAPD officials, and many of those templates are still in place, albeit out of the public domain to avoid alarm.
“The Oscars recognize that in a worst-case scenario, the fires could last for weeks, causing catastrophic and cataclysmic problems for LA and Hollywood, where the awards are held.
“These issues are being followed very closely, some famous faces are also being consulted, because everything is so up in the air that anything could happen.”
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Steven Spielberg is also on the awards committee that will decide if the ceremony can go ahead Credit: Getty
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Rescuers search the destroyed buildings in AltandenaCredit: Reuters
Even if the awards ceremony goes ahead, the gift bags, worth 140,000 pounds ($171,000), will be thrown away.
They included a three-night stay in the Swiss Alps, beauty treatments, jewelery and a £1,000 ($1,220) barbecue – but were deemed “in poor taste” by committee members.
Some of the emergency plans came into force after Covid. Even with most of the world in quarantine in 2021, the awards show was pushed back two months instead of canceled.
But the fires united Hollywood in an unprecedented way. Homes of stars such as Paris Hilton, Mel Gibson, Anthony Hopkins and Billy Crystal were destroyed, while other celebrities were evacuated from their properties.
The board’s main concern right now is not to look like they’re celebrating while so many Los Angelens are dealing with heartbreak and unimaginable loss.
Informed
Other stars do what they can to help. Among them is British singer Annie Lennox, who was pictured volunteering at a temporary food kitchen delivering meals to fire victims.
Meanwhile, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has already canceled the announcement of this year’s nominees and the nominees’ luncheon, where everyone poses for a photo after a three-course meal.
An insider said: “The Academy hates to be seen as ‘out of touch’ with its own community — the world is irrelevant — and many big names and studio heads have been hit with the loss of their homes and jobs, so no celebratory dinners are on the table.
“But the reality is that hundreds of millions of dollars are concentrated around the Oscars and to move their main night and ‘biggest revenue generator’ would have to be something cataclysmic.”
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Singer Annie Lennox helps deliver food to fire victimsCredit: Getty
BEYONCE TOUR DATES REVEALED POSTPONED
From Clemmie Moodie
BEYONCÉ has delayed her tour announcement, out of respect for those affected by the LA fires.
The singer was due to reveal her Cowboy Carter tour dates yesterday, but said she would do so later.
Beyoncé, above, whose mother Tina Knowles lost her Malibu home to the fire, said: “I continue to pray for healing and restoration for families suffering from trauma and loss.”
The fire forced the cancellation of a number of events, including a week of pre-Grammy parties.
Several companies, including Universal Music Group and Warner, have canceled their events.
However, the Grammy award ceremony itself is still expected in LA on February 2.
Movie premieres, including the Robbie Williams biopic A Better Man and The Unstoppable, starring Jennifer Lopez, have already been canceled due to the disaster.
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