LA fires: Oscar nominations postponed for second time

Academy Postpones Oscar Nominations Announcement Due to Los Angeles Wildfires

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences has made the decision to postpone the announcement of this year’s Oscar nominations for a second time, citing the ongoing wildfires in Los Angeles as the reason for the delay. Originally scheduled for this Friday, the nominations will now be revealed on January 23, after being rescheduled once to January 19.

CEO Bill Kramer and President Janet Yang released a statement explaining, “Due to the still-active fires in the Los Angeles area, we feel it is necessary to extend our voting period and move the date of our nominations announcement to allow additional time for our members.” The Academy has also opted to cancel the annual Oscar nominees lunch, which was planned for February 10. Despite these changes, the Academy Awards telecast is still set to take place on March 2.

Meanwhile, the organizers of the Grammys have confirmed that the music industry honors will proceed as scheduled on February 2. In light of the recent events, Recording Academy officials shared that this year’s show will have a special emphasis on raising funds to support wildfire relief efforts and recognizing the bravery of first responders who put their lives on the line to protect others.

As the entertainment industry navigates through these challenges, both the Academy and the Recording Academy are adjusting their plans to accommodate the current circumstances and show support for those affected by the wildfires.

(Reporting by Lisa Richwine; Editing by Will Dunham and Mark Porter)