IN a huge break from tradition the Oscars have cut a popular part of the ceremony.
For the first time in nearly 80 years, the Academy Awards has broken tradition and ditched a key part of the show, with fans left upset and begging for it to be reinstated.
The Oscars, which are scheduled for Sunday, March 2, from 7pm Eastern Time, has made a major change to the performances taking place on stage at the event.
The huge change is that there are no Best Original Song performances this year, which means this is the first time this will ever not happen.
This means that those in the running for the Best Original Song Oscar will not perform as they usually would.
Elton John and Selena Gomez, as well as several others up for the gong, will not be performing like they would have done in previous years had they have been nominated.
Back in January, Bill Kramer and Janet Yang – who are the CEO and president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences – confirmed that the Best Original Song category presentation would “move away from live performances” and instead focus on the songwriters.
“We will celebrate their artistry through personal reflections from the teams who bring these songs to life,” they said.
“All of this, and more, will uncover the stories and inspiration behind this year’s nominees.”
They did note however that there would be “powerful musical moments that connect film’s rich history to its bold and inspiring future”.
These “powerful music moments” are poised to include an opening performance from Wicked stars Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo.
FANS REACT TO SHAKEUP
Reacting to the news of the Academy Awards axing original song performances when the news was announced, fans were up in arms.
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“Why are we doing this?” asked one person on X.
Another asked: “Why does the academy hate fun and happiness?”
“It seems like all tradition and routine are being thrown to the wind,” said a third.
A fourth then penned: “The last few years some of the songs have been a major highlight of the night. Just make them fun”
BIG FIVE OSCARS NOMINEES 2025
BEST PICTURE
- Anora
- The Brutalist
- A Complete Unknown
- Conclave
- Dune: Part Two
- Emilia Pérez
- I’m Still Here
- Nickel Boys
- Wicked
- The Substance
BEST ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE
- Adrien Brody – The Brutalist
- Timothée Chalamet – A Complete Unknown
- Colman Domingo – Sing Sing
- Ralph Fiennes – Conclave
- Sebastian Stan – The Apprentice
BEST ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE
- Cynthia Erivo – Wicked
- Karla Sofía Gascón – Emilia Pérez
- Mikey Madison – Anora
- Demi Moore – The Substance
- Fernanda Torres – I’m Still Here
BEST SCREENPLAY
- Adapted Screenplay: A Complete Unknown (James Mangold and Jay Cocks), Conclave (Peter Straughan), Emilia Pérez ( Jacques Audiard; In collaboration with Thomas Bidegain, Léa Mysius and Nicolas Livecchi), Nickel Boys (RaMell Ross and Joslyn Barnes), Sing Sing (Clint Bentley, Greg Kwedar; Story by Clint Bentley, Greg Kwedar, Clarence Maclin, John “Divine G” Whitfield)
- Original Screenplay: Anora (Sean Baker), The Brutalist (Brady Corbet, Mona Fastvold), A Real Pain (Jesse Eisenberg), September 5 (Moritz Binder, Tim Fehlbaum; Co-Written by Alex David), The Substance (Coralie Fargeat)
BEST DIRECTOR
- Anora – Sean Baker
- The Brutalist – Brady Corbet
- A Complete Unknown – James Mangold
- Emilia Pérezn – Jacques Audiard
- The Substance – Coralie Fargeat
While a fifth said: “wdym??? who allowed this?????”
DIFFERENT VIBE
The overall vibe of the ceremony is set to be different too, because of one key reason.
Due to the Los Angeles wild fires that raged on earlier this year, the Oscars will likely feel different than it has in previous years.
In a statement released by Kramer and Yang on January 13, they said: “We are devastated by the impact of the fires and the profound losses experienced by so many in our community.
“The Academy has always been a unifying force within the film industry, and we are committed to standing together in the face of hardship.”
They noted how they were looking forward “to honoring our frontline workers who have aided with the fires, recognizing those impacted, and encouraging people to join the Academy in supporting the relief efforts”.
Then, on January 22 they added that the ceremony would “honor Los Angeles as the city of dreams, showcasing its beauty and resilience, as well as its role as a beacon for filmmakers and creative visionaries for over a century”.
“We will reflect on the recent events while highlighting the strength, creativity and optimism that defines Los Angeles and our industry,” they concluded.
