Jean Smart says the Oscars and award ceremonies shouldn't be broadcast this year after LA's fires. Some think that's the wrong move.
Amy Sussman / Getty Images
- Jean Smart called on TV networks to consider not broadcasting award ceremonies following the LA fires.
- Some entertainment journalists said outright cancellations would hurt gig workers in LA the most.
- A debate has erupted on whether award season should go ahead at all.
Jean Smart called on TV networks to not broadcast this year's award ceremonies amid the Los Angeles wildfires, but some journalists believe this move would hurt those who work behind the scenes on the show.
The awards season has already been altered this week in response to the fires, which JPMorgan analysts estimate could result in losses of $50 billion.
On Wednesday, Joey Berlin, the CEO of the Critics Choice Association, said its awards ceremony would be pushed back to January 26. The SAG nominations broadcast has also been canceled.
Oscars nominations are now expected to be delayed by two days to January 19, per an email from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts reported by multiple outlets.
The Academy did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.
But some people think more should be done.
Smart, the Emmy-winning actor who stars in "Hacks," posted on Instagram on Wednesday: "With ALL due respect during Hollywood's season of celebration. I hope any of the networks televising the upcoming awards will seriously consider NOT televising them and donating the revenue they would have gathered to victims of the fires and the firefighters."
Brandon Lewis, a film critic, said on X that all the awards shows should be pushed back, adding: "I just don't see how anyone will be able to focus on something comparatively trivial like campaigning with people's homes destroyed and lives upended."
Some X users agreed, while others called for awards season to be canceled.
It’s still a ways way but any awards happening right now is weird. I think they should definitely consider postponing every awards show. So many are “from the area” to get all fancy dressed for a show that’s about them. Bad bad look https://t.co/5nPlpvP9OM
— chupacabra (@generic_storie) January 9, 2025
How out of touch do you have to be to even consider doing an awards show while California is being torn to shreds. Cancel the entire thing. Celebrities could show their humanity for a change and understand why https://t.co/A5aQf70r0m
— Cobalt (@Cobaaaaaalt) January 9, 2025
I feel like Awards Season needs to be postponed out of respect for those affected by the #LAFires. I love celebrating the entertainment industry but right now is not the time for more galas when people have literally lost everything they have. Just a thought.
— Shamindri De Sayrah (@Shami1412) January 9, 2025
Eric Andersen, the founder and editor in chief of Awards Watch, an awards-focused outlet, and other users on X suggested that the networks and awards organizers should donate the revenue from broadcasts to people affected by the wildfires.
Andersen added that the award organizations would not generate any money without televising their shows.
love her but or they could stop giving winners million dollar gift bags or the actors with millions of dollars could donate too (and i’m sure they will) but cancelling the award shows which could bring awareness and be used as an almost fundraiser would be better (when safe) pic.twitter.com/6PA9WVB9sY
— sandra oh emmy campaign manager (@captnmarvl) January 9, 2025
her heart is in the right place i’m sure, but canceling award show broadcasts means no ad revenue to donate, and networks only make money if they air the shows. a better idea would be to donate a portion of the profits or use the broadcast to raise funds or something https://t.co/agNFZYSM0v
— lina ✨ (@onlyafortnight) January 9, 2025
The Academy Awards made $143.5 million in revenue in 2023 from the Oscars and related events, according to financial statements reported by The Hollywood Reporter.
Marc Malkin, a senior editor at Variety, told KTLA 5 that "priorities have to shift," but Hollywood was a "gig economy" that relied on award shows.
Variety’s @marcmalkin on Jean Smart’s call to cancel televised award shows amid catastrophic fires: “Priorities have to shift, Hollywood has to pivot. Hollywood knows how to pivot.” but notes the non-celeb gig workers (waiters, makeup artists) who rely on these events to survive pic.twitter.com/PeqaaXgovu
— Ashley Regan (@ashley_regan) January 9, 2025
"Makeup artists, hairstylists, drivers, waiters," Malkin said. "Yes, the celebrities are going to be fine. They don't need an awards show money-wise, but all of this gig economy, all of those people. It's a day rate. They're all going to lose work."
He added: "People rely on this to feed their kids, to pay their rent. We can't ignore that."
Maggie Lovitt, a Collider editor, Matthew Rettenmund, an author and freelance editor, and other users on X agreed with this sentiment.
"Let's cancel awards season" is not going to help, but will hurt a lot of livelihoods. The Oscars are 2 months away. I understand postponing some lesser shows. I agree that a fundraising aspect is more appropriate.
— Matthew Rettenmund (@mattrett) January 9, 2025
Also that would put a lot of live production folks out of work when they need it most.
— Maggie Lovitt (@maggieofthetown) January 9, 2025
Agree with @marcmalkin. Award season should obviously be postponed, but not cancelled. It’s not just about celebs getting awards, people who run these shows behind the scenes count on these events to pay their bills. So many drivers, waiters, make up artists would be out of work. https://t.co/kG6smgQXDD
— alli. ✨ (@AlliApplebum) January 10, 2025
Some users on Instagram also hit back against Smart's statement in her comments section, with one writing: "Productions shutting down will further contribute to the demise of LA. How will those of us rebuild if we can't work?"