The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has officially announced a second postponement of this year’s Oscar nominations due to the ongoing wildfires ravaging Los Angeles, as stated by organizers on Monday, January 13.
Initially scheduled for this Friday, the nominations for the film industry’s most prestigious awards will now be revealed on January 23. The announcement had already been pushed from its original date of January 19. The Academy also indicated that the voting period would be extended once more, now lasting until Friday. The nominations are set to be disclosed during a virtual event at 5:30 a.m. Pacific Time, a change from the previous in-person announcement format. This delay comes as a response to the devastating impact of the fires, which have significantly affected the local community.
In a joint statement, Academy CEO Bill Kramer and President Janet Yang expressed their deep sorrow over the devastating consequences of the wildfires, saying, “We are all devastated by the impact of the fires and the profound losses experienced by so many in our community.” They emphasized the Academy's role as a unifying entity within the film industry, reaffirming their commitment to supporting each other during these challenging times.
Due to the active wildfires in the Los Angeles area, Kramer and Yang indicated that extending the voting period and rescheduling the nominations announcement was essential to give members more time to participate. Furthermore, the Academy has canceled its annual Oscar nominees lunch, which was slated for February 10. However, the Academy Awards ceremony is still planned for March 2.
In a related note, the organizers of the Grammy Awards confirmed that their event would proceed as scheduled on February 2. They also highlighted that this year's ceremony would carry a renewed sense of purpose, focusing on raising funds for wildfire relief efforts and honoring the courage and dedication of first responders who risk their lives for public safety. This message was conveyed in a letter to members of the Recording Academy.
Additionally, the Writers Guild of America announced a delay in their own award nominations, stating they would be postponed "until further notice."
The Oscars ceremony remains set for a televised broadcast on March 2. However, there have been calls within the industry for changes to this year’s awards season. Actress Rosanna Arquette took to the BlueSky app to urge award shows, including the Oscars, to raise funds for the city, firefighters, and families devastated by the fires.
In a separate development, the premiere of the eight-part series "Love, Meghan," which features the former actress sharing tips on cooking, gardening, and hosting, has been rescheduled from January 15 to March 4. The Duchess of Sussex expressed gratitude to her partners at Netflix for their support in delaying the launch to focus on the needs of those impacted by the wildfires in California.
On Friday, she and her husband, the Duke of Sussex, visited a meal distribution site for fire-affected residents, engaging with community members and emergency crews.
The Academy also expressed its eagerness to honor the frontline workers who have been instrumental in combating the fires, acknowledging those affected and encouraging the public to join in supporting relief efforts.
In a final note, the Recording Academy reiterated that the Grammy Awards would proceed as planned on February 2, with the telecast on CBS also set to pay tribute to first responders.
Zainab Y.
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