Famous actress Jean Smart recently suggested that an upcoming awards show should scrap its plans to broadcast the event across television networks and use the funds to assist the victims of the devastating California fires instead. Smart, 73, was recently awarded a Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy last week. However, she has astutely recognized there are bigger problems at hand.
At least five separate fires have broken out in Southern California, where tens of thousands of acres have been scorched. Over 1,000 structures have been destroyed by the blaze amounting to untold billions in damage, poised to be one of the costliest natural disasters in U.S. history. As of writing this article, the death toll is at least 10.
Smart took to Instagram, calling on Hollywood to help those in need instead of glorifying celebrities. “Attention! 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 garnered to victims of the fires and the firefighters,” she wrote on social media.
However, Smart received mixed reactions from users in the comments section. Cheering on the idea, one person commented, “Bravo Jean 👏👏👏”. However, another person suggested that Hollywood only cares because it is in their backyard, where they have not taken similar action for natural disasters elsewhere in the country. “Like yall did for Hawaii and Western NC?” one person questioned.
Another person suggested that the show should continue, because canceling it could negatively impact others. “Taking away award season is a silly idea. This is giving Covid, actors strike job loss energy. I understand your intentions but SO many people lose a good chunk of money during award season. It’s the busiest time of the year for me and I suffered so much job loss during Covid and the actors strike that financially im still trying to recover from and now you’re suggesting taking away 3 months of work for me. Pls rethink these thoughts,” they said.
That post continued, “Award shows can maybe donate money from parties and goodie bags to those affected by the fires and they also offer a good platform to talk about climate change and what is happening here. It’s easy when you make a good salary from a very successful show to make this kind of while well intentioned is damaging to hundreds of people who work in the industry.”
Echoing this sentiment, another post floated the idea that the show could be aired while also drawing attention to the California fires in a meaningful way. “NO….the Show Must Go On… there is a time and a way to do it respectfully and while calling attention to how to donate and keeping these much needed jobs for the people who work on these shows,” they wrote. Another added, “No. Have the award shows, generate the revenue to donate.”
Watch Gavin Newsom avoid being confronted by an angry constituent about the wildfires:
