Hollywood’s biggest night, the Oscars, may be canceled for the first time in its 96-year history due to the devastating wildfires raging across Los Angeles.

The show faces an unprecedented crisis as official Academy Award committees, led by A-listers including Tom Hanks, Meryl Streep, Steven Spielberg, and Emma Stone are monitoring the situation daily.

A secret ‘contingency strategy’ is reportedly in place for the March 2 awards ceremony to be called off, as per the U.S. Sun. 

There’s a growing concern that proceeding with the glitzy Oscars 2025 ceremony could be seen as tone-deaf given the recent destruction. 

‘The board’s main concern at this time is to not look like they are celebrating while many Los Angelenos are dealing with heartbreak and unimaginable loss,’ an insider told the publication. 

‘And certainly, even if the fires went out in the next week, the reality is that the city is still hurting and will be dealing with that pain for months,’ the insider added. 

Hollywood’s biggest night, the Oscars, may be canceled for the first time in its 96-year history due to the devastating wildfires raging across Los Angeles 

The show faces an unprecedented crisis as official Academy Award committees, led by A-listers including Tom Hanks, Meryl Streep, Steven Spielberg, and Emma Stone are monitoring the situation daily; Hanks seen with his Oscar in 1994

‘So the hierarchy decided that the focus will be support and fundraising when the right opportunities present themselves.’

The insider added that ‘the very thought of having a waiter, a poorly paid innocent who has lost their home, serving delicate Wagyu burgers and sliced cucumber sandwiches to multi-millionaire movie stars doesn’t exactly sit right.’ 

There are 17 separate branches of the Oscars’ committees who realize ‘that in a worst case situation, the fires could continue for weeks, prompting disastrous and cataclysmic issues for LA and Hollywood, where the awards are staged.’

The source added that the situation is being monitored with ‘some well-known faces consulted’ and that ‘everything is so up in the air that anything could happen.’ 

Even if the awards ceremony proceeds, the extravagant $171,000 goody bags will be eliminated, as they have been deemed in ‘bad taste’ by board members.

These lavish gifts included a three-night stay in the Swiss Alps, beauty treatments, exquisite jewelry, and a $1,220 barbecue grill.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has already cancelled the announcement of this year’s nominees and the nominees’ luncheon.

However, the source stated that ‘hundreds of millions of dollars are centered around the Oscars and moving their main evening and “biggest revenue generator” would need something cataclysmic to happen.’ 

A secret ‘contingency strategy’ is reportedly in place for the March 2 awards ceremony to be called off, as per the U.S. Sun; Stone pictured accepting her Oscar in 2024

There’s a growing concern that proceeding with the glitzy Oscars 2025 ceremony could be seen as tone-deaf given the recent destruction; Will Smith seen accepting an Oscar in 2022

‘The very thought of having a waiter, a poorly paid innocent who has lost their home, serving delicate Wagyu burgers and sliced cucumber sandwiches to multi-millionaire movie stars doesn’t exactly sit right’;  Steven Spielberg seen at the Oscar Nominees Luncheon in 2024

Developed in the early 2000s after 9/11, the highly classified contingency plan would be enacted if a ‘life-changing event’ threatens the broadcast of the show. 

‘Terror threats were the priority for many years with discussions with Homeland Security, the FBI, CIA and LAPD task force officers, and many of those templates are still in place, albeit out of the public domain to avoid alarm.’ 

On Monday, it was revealed that the nominations for the 2025 Oscars have been ‘further delayed’. The voting period has been extended to January 17 – after previously being postponed to January 14.

The announcement of the nominations will now take place on January 23.

Many social media users have shared their thoughts on the event, and suggested that the ceremony itself be changed to a telethon fundraiser to help raise money for the victims of the fires that began last week. 

The Oscars were last delayed during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021. At the time the show was postponed for two months, from February to April. 

Four members of the Academy’s board of governors as well as the former CEO additionally lost their houses in the fires, according to The Hollywood Reporter. 

Some of Hollywood’s biggest names have seen their beloved homes razed in the devastating wildfires that have swept through Los Angeles this week.

Anthony Hopkins, Paris Hilton, Miles Teller and Anna Faris are just a few of the many stars whose stunning mansions have been reduced to ash and rubble.

‘The board’s main concern at this time is to not look like they are celebrating while many Los Angelenos are dealing with heartbreak and unimaginable loss,’ an insider told the publication; the Palisades Fire pictured as it ravages a neighborhood of Los Angeles on January 7th 

Even if the awards ceremony proceeds, the extravagant $171,000 goody bags will be eliminated, as they have been deemed in ‘bad taste’ by board members; Matthew McConaughey and Cate Blanchett holding their Oscars in 2014

Upwards of 200,000 residents have been subject to evacuation orders and thousands are still trapped in shelters, unable to return home as authorities begin the arduous task of searching the ash and debris for human remains.

The fires are still raging a week on – costing at least 25 lives, razing an estimated 12,300 structures and wiping out 40,000 acres of land.

The sheer scale of the devastation is unprecedented, with prime real estate stretching from Malibu to the Palisades and down to Santa Monica wiped off the map.

The death toll is likely to rise, Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said Monday. At least two dozen people have been reported missing, he said.

Other awards events have also been cancelled or postponed since the deadly fires began.

The 2025 Critics Choice Awards was also postponed after being originally set to take place this week on Sunday, January 12. Instead, the event will now occur later this month on January 26.

The annual ceremony was going to be held over the weekend at Barker Hanger in Santa Monica – a city close to the Pacific Palisades wildfire.

The awards show will still be held at the Barker Hangar later this month, and hosted by Chelsea Handler.

Earlier this week on Monday, it was revealed that the voting period has been extended to January 17 – after previously being postponed to January 14. The announcement of the nominations will now take place on January 23

The 97th Academy Awards are supposed to take place March 2 – and hosted by comedian and TV personality, Conan O’Brien; seen in 2023 in NYC 

The annual BAFTA Tea Party was supposed to take place on Saturday – but has also been canceled.

Other academy events have also been temporarily canceled and will be rescheduled to a later date, such as the International Feature Film Shortlist Screening.

L.A. industry bake-offs have been canceled while the Academy Museum closed its doors on Wednesday – with screenings set to be rescheduled to an unknown date.

Other Hollywood events have been shut down, including tapings for shows such as Jimmy Kimmel Live! and The Price Is Right.

The 67th Annual Grammy Awards are scheduled to go ahead on the original date of February 2 at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.

A statement was shared by both the Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. and the chair of the Academy’s board of trustees, Tammy Hurt.

It read: ‘Our hearts go out to everyone affected by the devastating wildfires in Los Angeles. This city is our home, and we mourn the loss of life and destruction that have come to it in recent days.’

The 67th Annual Grammy Awards are scheduled to also go ahead on the original date of February 2 at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles; Taylor Swift seen in February 2024 in L.A. 

‘In close coordination with local authorities to ensure public safety and responsible use of area resources, the 67th Grammy Awards telecast on CBS on Feb. 2 will proceed as planned.’

They added, ‘This year’s show, however, will carry a renewed sense of purpose: raising additional funds to support wildfire relief efforts and honoring the bravery and dedication of first responders who risk their lives to protect ours.’

‘In challenging times, music has the power to heal, comfort, and unite like nothing else.’

‘The Grammys will not only honor the artistry and achievements of our music community but also serve as a platform to amplify the spirit of resilience that defines this great city of Los Angeles.’