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Wednesday, February 5, 2025

Glitzy Oscars nominees’ lunch cancelled after LA wildfires


Los Angeles, United States—The body that awards the Oscars said Monday it was cancelling its ritzy nominees’ luncheon, as Los Angeles grapples with enormous wildfires.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences also moved its nomination announcement online, as Hollywood tries to navigate the somber mood at a time it would usually be celebrating award season.

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“We are all devastated by the impact of the fires and the profound losses experienced by so many in our community,” said Academy CEO Bill Kramer and President Janet Yang.

“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 names of Oscar finalists will now be announced in a virtual event on January 23, while the nominees’ luncheon—a champagne-swilling celebration of all those up for statuettes—is off, the Academy said.

Huge fires have razed whole communities around Los Angeles, the second-largest city in the United States, killing at least 24 people and destroying thousands of structures.

Seven days after the blazes erupted, 92,000 people remain displaced.

Stars including Anthony Hopkins, Mel Gibson and Billy Crystal lost their homes to the fires, and production was halted for TV and film.

Hollywood studios and streamers have pledged eight-figure donations to emergency response and rebuilding efforts.

Warner Bros Discovery and Disney each committed $15 million, while Netflix, Amazon and Universal parent company Comcast said they would give $10 million apiece.

“Our studio has called Burbank home for more than 100 years, and we are focused on what needs to be done to help those impacted rebound from this disaster and rebuild in the weeks, months, and years ahead,” said a Warner statement.

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