Entertainment
Oscars fans declare ‘sheer devastation’ after major part of awards show is scrapped-Asyia Iftikhar-Entertainment – Metro
There has been a major shake-up to the Oscars ceremony in 2025, with mixed reactions (Picture: Danny Moloshok/Invision/AP)
Fans of the Oscars ceremony are disappointed after The Academy announced it has thrown out live performances of the best original song nominees.
The annual Hollywood awards ceremony celebrates the very best in cinema from the previous year – and tends to follow the same structure.
Conan O’Brien is hosting the star-studded 2025 event, with celebrities introducing a whole range of acting and craft categories, culminating in the ultimate prize – best picture.
Normally the festivities include live performances of all the nominees for the best original song category, Last year memorably included a larger-than-life I’m Just Ken rendition led by Ryan Gosling and a whole host of fellow Kens.
Oscar-winning sibling duo Billie Eilish and Finneas also moved fans with their performance of the Barbie song, What Was I Made For?
This year, however, this will not be happening, as the telecast focuses on the impact of the LA wildfires.
Ryan Gosling pulled out all the stops for last year’s I’m Just Ken performance (Picture: Getty)
Billie Eilish sang her Oscar-winning song, What Was I Made For? from the Barbie soundtrack too (Picture: Getty)
An internal letter said the show will ‘reflect on the recent events while highlighting the strength, creativity, and optimism that defines Los Angeles and our industry’ and include ‘powerful musical moments’, per EW.
There is also expected to be a spotlight on the songwriters behind the nominations.
The letter continues: ‘We will celebrate their artistry through personal reflections from the teams who bring these songs to life. All of this, and more, will uncover the stories and inspiration behind this year’s nominees.’
This year’s shortlisted songs include Compress/Repress from Challengers, El Mal and Mi Camino from Emilia Perez, Elton John’s Never Too Late Kneecap’s Sick in the Head as well as songs from Six Triple Eight, The Wild Robot and Will & Harper.
Notably, Wicked is not included in the best original song category as it is based on pre-existing material and Robbie Williams’ biopic Better Man was also controversially disqualified from the shortlist with the song Forbidden Road.
The official nominees will be announced later today after it was delayed due to the impact of the LA wildfires.
Viewers are very conflicted over the news with many upset at losing such a vibrant and immersive aspect of the show and the chance to hear their favourite tunes live.
‘I know nominations aren’t out yet but I am mourning a potential kneecap performance,’ @aquestionofelle wrote on X.
Many are sad at losing out on a potential performance from Kneecap (Picture: James Veysey/Shutterstock for BI)
Others are relieved they won’t have to hear songs from the poorly-received Emilia Perez (Picture: AP)
‘They keep slimming down the parts of the ceremony people actually enjoy and watch so they have more time for presenters to make repetitive jokes about how movies are too long,’ @banananna024 shared.
‘This is the worst January of all time,’ @sarahdistortion added.
‘Found out why they’re doing this and I get it but the sheer devastation I feel over kneecap not getting to perform at the Oscars (if they’re even nominated),’ @amy_shush reflected.
‘Not getting [Kneecap] live on the Oscar stage is actually a major bummer,’ @obviouslyadri noted.
‘Kinda upset because I would’ve liked to see a live performance of “Like a Bird” and “Compress/Repress” (if they’re nominated) but then I would’ve had to listen to Emilia Perez outside of the movie…so conflicted,’ @mmrebelas08 argued.
But there has also been celebration by some fans who are unimpressed by the potential nominee line-up this year, particularly Emilia Perez, and believe nothing can compare to Ryan’s showstopping number last year.
‘People mourning that original song nominees performances won’t occur this year when it’s actually the best thing… did you all really want to waste time listening to the terrible songs on contention this year?’ @natseri said.
‘I was mad until I realized no Emilia Perez,’ @ilvthroughtis posed.
‘Two Emilia Perez songs are getting nominated and they said: ‘Yeah, no one wants to listen to that,’ @anothernickyt agreed.
‘My guess is this has something to do with avoiding Emilia Perez backlash…,’ @terciadesilva shared.
Notably, Better Man was disqualified from the shortlist (Picture: AP)
‘Ryan Gosling set the bar very high, and nobody dares to perform this year, I understand, it’s normal,’ @piolgosling14 posted.
‘They couldn’t do better than Ryan Gosling singing I’m Just Ken and just gave up,’ @equestr0n speculated.
‘Seeing lots of speculation that this is to stop casual viewers realise how bad the Emilia Perez songs are, but in reality, they just don’t want another Ryan Gosling-level performance that upstages the winner. This was probably decided days after the last ceremony,’ @yesitsalistair summed up.
Others still shared their hopes that non-shortlisted songs from Better Man and Wicked, such as Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande’s version of Defying Gravity, may still be involved.
The last time the best original songs live performance plan was affected was in 2012 when only two nominees were recognized in that year’s bracket.
There’s been plenty of turbulence in the lead-up to the 2025 ceremony from best picture favourite The Brutalist having to defend itself against AI accusations to Stephen King calling for the whole thing to be called off amid the fires.
The nominations this year will be presented by Rachel Sennott and Bowen Yang.
Got a story?
If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.
There has been a major shake-up to the Oscars ceremony in 2025, with mixed reactions (Picture: Danny Moloshok/Invision/AP)
Fans of the Oscars ceremony are disappointed after The Academy announced it has thrown out live performances of the best original song nominees.
The annual Hollywood awards ceremony celebrates the very best in cinema from the previous year – and tends to follow the same structure.
Conan O’Brien is hosting the star-studded 2025 event, with celebrities introducing a whole range of acting and craft categories, culminating in the ultimate prize – best picture.
Normally the festivities include live performances of all the nominees for the best original song category, Last year memorably included a larger-than-life I’m Just Ken rendition led by Ryan Gosling and a whole host of fellow Kens.
Oscar-winning sibling duo Billie Eilish and Finneas also moved fans with their performance of the Barbie song, What Was I Made For?
This year, however, this will not be happening, as the telecast focuses on the impact of the LA wildfires.
Ryan Gosling pulled out all the stops for last year’s I’m Just Ken performance (Picture: Getty)
Billie Eilish sang her Oscar-winning song, What Was I Made For? from the Barbie soundtrack too (Picture: Getty)
An internal letter said the show will ‘reflect on the recent events while highlighting the strength, creativity, and optimism that defines Los Angeles and our industry’ and include ‘powerful musical moments’, per EW.
There is also expected to be a spotlight on the songwriters behind the nominations.
The letter continues: ‘We will celebrate their artistry through personal reflections from the teams who bring these songs to life. All of this, and more, will uncover the stories and inspiration behind this year’s nominees.’
This year’s shortlisted songs include Compress/Repress from Challengers, El Mal and Mi Camino from Emilia Perez, Elton John’s Never Too Late Kneecap’s Sick in the Head as well as songs from Six Triple Eight, The Wild Robot and Will & Harper.
Notably, Wicked is not included in the best original song category as it is based on pre-existing material and Robbie Williams’ biopic Better Man was also controversially disqualified from the shortlist with the song Forbidden Road.
The official nominees will be announced later today after it was delayed due to the impact of the LA wildfires.
Viewers are very conflicted over the news with many upset at losing such a vibrant and immersive aspect of the show and the chance to hear their favourite tunes live.
‘I know nominations aren’t out yet but I am mourning a potential kneecap performance,’ @aquestionofelle wrote on X.
Many are sad at losing out on a potential performance from Kneecap (Picture: James Veysey/Shutterstock for BI)
Others are relieved they won’t have to hear songs from the poorly-received Emilia Perez (Picture: AP)
‘They keep slimming down the parts of the ceremony people actually enjoy and watch so they have more time for presenters to make repetitive jokes about how movies are too long,’ @banananna024 shared.
‘This is the worst January of all time,’ @sarahdistortion added.
‘Found out why they’re doing this and I get it but the sheer devastation I feel over kneecap not getting to perform at the Oscars (if they’re even nominated),’ @amy_shush reflected.
‘Not getting [Kneecap] live on the Oscar stage is actually a major bummer,’ @obviouslyadri noted.
‘Kinda upset because I would’ve liked to see a live performance of “Like a Bird” and “Compress/Repress” (if they’re nominated) but then I would’ve had to listen to Emilia Perez outside of the movie…so conflicted,’ @mmrebelas08 argued.
But there has also been celebration by some fans who are unimpressed by the potential nominee line-up this year, particularly Emilia Perez, and believe nothing can compare to Ryan’s showstopping number last year.
‘People mourning that original song nominees performances won’t occur this year when it’s actually the best thing… did you all really want to waste time listening to the terrible songs on contention this year?’ @natseri said.
‘I was mad until I realized no Emilia Perez,’ @ilvthroughtis posed.
‘Two Emilia Perez songs are getting nominated and they said: ‘Yeah, no one wants to listen to that,’ @anothernickyt agreed.
‘My guess is this has something to do with avoiding Emilia Perez backlash…,’ @terciadesilva shared.
Notably, Better Man was disqualified from the shortlist (Picture: AP)
‘Ryan Gosling set the bar very high, and nobody dares to perform this year, I understand, it’s normal,’ @piolgosling14 posted.
‘They couldn’t do better than Ryan Gosling singing I’m Just Ken and just gave up,’ @equestr0n speculated.
‘Seeing lots of speculation that this is to stop casual viewers realise how bad the Emilia Perez songs are, but in reality, they just don’t want another Ryan Gosling-level performance that upstages the winner. This was probably decided days after the last ceremony,’ @yesitsalistair summed up.
Others still shared their hopes that non-shortlisted songs from Better Man and Wicked, such as Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande’s version of Defying Gravity, may still be involved.
The last time the best original songs live performance plan was affected was in 2012 when only two nominees were recognized in that year’s bracket.
There’s been plenty of turbulence in the lead-up to the 2025 ceremony from best picture favourite The Brutalist having to defend itself against AI accusations to Stephen King calling for the whole thing to be called off amid the fires.
The nominations this year will be presented by Rachel Sennott and Bowen Yang.
Got a story?
If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.
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