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.
“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.