Amidst the ongoing infernos ravaging Los Angeles, Jean Smart has issued a poignant message to television executives, urging them to reconsider their approach during Hollywood's festive season. On Wednesday, December 8, the "Hacks" star posted a heartfelt appeal on Instagram, stating, "Attention, please! With the utmost respect, as we embark on Hollywood's celebration, I implore any network broadcasting the impending awards to seriously contemplate foregoing the telecast and instead donating the potential revenue to the fire victims and the brave firefighters battling these blazes."
Smart's call to action stems from the devastating impact of at least four fires across Los Angeles, which have disrupted numerous Hollywood events. The Critics Choice Awards, originally scheduled for Sunday, January 12, on E!, have been postponed, as has the announcement of Oscar nominations. Initially set for Friday, January 17, the grand reveal has now been rescheduled to Sunday, January 19, according to The Hollywood Reporter. (The Oscars themselves are slated to air on March 2 on ABC.)
"This unfolding catastrophe has deeply affected our community. Our thoughts and prayers are with those fighting the infernos and all those who have been impacted," expressed Joey Berlin, CEO of the Critics Choice Awards, in a statement. The Critics Choice Awards will now be broadcast live on January 26.
Prior to the outbreak of fires on Tuesday, January 7, Smart was celebrated at the Golden Globes on Sunday, January 5, where she won Best Actress in a Television Series, Comedy, for her role in "Hacks." She claimed the award over stiff competition from Selena Gomez of "Only Murders in the Building" and Quinta Brunson of "Abbott Elementary."
The L.A. fires, fueled by fierce Santa Ana winds, have wreaked havoc on numerous Hollywood stars. By Wednesday night, another blaze erupted in the Hollywood Hills, a favorite neighborhood for celebrities. Julianne Hough, host of "Dancing With the Stars," was among those who evacuated the Hollywood Hills area on Wednesday.
"OK, so there's a fire right next to my house," Hough said via Instagram Stories, in a clip filmed at her residence. "We're with friends, but for anyone in the Hollywood Hills, I've been having this eerie feeling that we're like a bowl surrounded by fire, and now it's centered on Hollywood. Everyone needs to evacuate immediately. Go, go, go, go, go. Right now."
After sharing that urgent message, Hough updated her followers with a second video taken from a car, accompanied by her dog, Sunny. "Sunny and I are safe and we're driving, but the reason I'm saying 'evacuate now' is that even if it's not close to you, if you have somewhere safe to go, you should leave because there's traffic," she urged. "You'll get stuck in traffic, and that's not good. So, please stay safe, send your prayers to the first responders and firefighters, and come together. All you can do is support each other."
Other stars affected by the L.A. fires include Paris Hilton, Billy Crystal, and Spencer Pratt and Heidi Montag.
