Here’s How the Oscars Should Address L.A.’s Wildfires

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Amid the devastating wildfires ravaging through Los Angeles, many on social media called for the cancelation of the upcoming Oscars ceremony.

A U.K.-based tabloid newspaper even went so far as to erroneously report that Academy Award committee members were seriously considering canceling the show (The Hollywood Reporter then reported that no such plan is being contemplated and no such advisory committee exists). But speaking to various nominees following the Oscar nominations last week, it’s clear that the show must go on — with some adjustments to honor the victims of the devastation.

The Academy agrees. Last week, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences sent a letter to its full membership about its upcoming Oscars ceremony on March 2 and how it will honor Los Angeles amid its crisis.

Below, acting nominees like Demi Moore and Mikey Madison and directors like The Substance‘s Coralie Fargeat and Inside Out 2‘s Kelsey Mann weigh in on how the Oscars can appropriately proceed — and why it’s important to do so.

Marc Platt (Producer, Wicked):

“I’m a proud Angeleno. There isn’t anyone in this beautiful city that hasn’t been touched by the fires. The grieving process is something we have all been affected by. Part of the grieving process and getting through loss, I think, is starting to step forward back into life. We have the touring show of Wicked at the Pantages. We had to shut down for a week and evacuate the actors from their hotels in Hollywood to downtown. We wrestled with whether it was the right thing to provide entertainment when so many people were hurting. When we reopened, I gave a curtain speech about how we want to move forward. The audience cheered. They want to start getting life back, too. I’m hopeful we can help people do the same at the Oscars.”

Demi Moore (Actress, The Substance)

“I had one day after the Globes [where she won an acting award] before everything shut down, I had no power. I had to leave my house. It is very humbling. There is nothing we can do but really stay present. And it does remind you of what’s really important. We really need the uplift of actually acknowledging those of this industry, because this is what our town is built on.”

Coralie Fargeat (Director, The Substance)

“It’s been a tragedy. I don’t live [in L.A.], so there is this little remote filter that I can have. But I feel like in L.A. there is a lot of consciousness about that, about the necessity to really help the people who were hit and have the time to process and to digest and to take the moment also to grieve. But I feel like the decision for the ceremonies to still happen is also a way for all the people who put so much effort or whose jobs are linked to this city, to not jeopardize that. So if it’s done in a very respectful way, like thinking still about everything that’s ongoing, I think it’s a way also to celebrate the hard work of all the people who are working for those events.”

Kelsey Mann (Director, Inside Out 2)

“My heart goes out to everybody going through what they’re going through. We had our share of it here in the Bay Area a few years ago. A huge fire came in, and we had to get our family ready to evacuate. It stirs up a lot of emotions. But seeing a whole community come together can help people in a large city really feel like they’re part of the same place. It reminds us of our humanity, that we can come together and support each other when it matters.”

Mikey Madison (Actress, Anora)

“I’m a native Angeleno. Los Angeles has been my home for forever. My heart has been broken by all this devastation these fires caused. The best way to honor victims I think is just about the industry continuing forward and creating jobs. People need that right now.”

Zoe Saldaña (Actress, Emilia Pérez)

“It’s a bittersweet moment as our community in Los Angeles is processing the heartbreaking losses from the ongoing fires – homes, schools, businesses and entire neighborhoods. My heart is with all those affected and I’m sending endless love and appreciation to our fearless first responders and everyone working to help rebuild our city.”