Oscars Consider Scrapping Red Carpet Amid Growing Middle East Tensions

As the 98th Academy Awards approach, speculation is growing over whether the red carpet will look very different this year. Sources tell entertainment outlets that the Academy is considering major changes to the traditional arrival ceremony due to rising tensions in the Middle East, specifically the ongoing “Operation Epic Fury.”

Originally, the event was set to feature Japanese maple trees as part of the decor, chosen to symbolize peace and longevity. Some insiders wonder if such displays will still feel appropriate given the global situation.

An awards insider told reporters that the Academy is 100-percent looking at every contingency and evaluating the optics of every possible scenario to ensure the evening remains respectful.

While no final decisions have been made, organizers are reportedly sensitive to the fact that three Iranian filmmakers are nominated this year. Jafar Panahi is up for his film It Was Just an Accident, and the directing team behind the documentary Cutting Through Rocks is also among the nominees.

The red carpet is seen as a potential minefield, with talent and their teams concerned about being asked difficult questions regarding international conflict. At recent events like the SAG Awards, media outlets were positioned at the far end of the press line to avoid putting celebrities in uncomfortable political situations.

Many stars have instead turned to symbolic jewelry to share their messages. Pins reading ICE OUT and BE GOOD, promoted by the PR firm ID PR, have become popular on the awards circuit and were spotted on stars including Mark Ruffalo and Ariana Grande at the Golden Globes.

The Oscars will take place on March 15 at the Dolby Theatre, with Conan O’Brien hosting. This year’s Best Picture race is highly competitive, with contenders like the sci-fi epic The Electric State and the historical drama The Apprentice.

Beyond the awards, many nominees have major projects coming later in the year. Ariana Grande is preparing for the release of Wicked: Part Two, where she reprises her role as Glinda alongside Cynthia Erivo, and Mark Ruffalo will return in Now You See Me 3, reuniting the original “Four Horsemen” for a new international heist story.

The ceremony is being produced by Raj Kapoor and Katy Mullan, who have emphasized the importance of celebrating the power of cinema while acknowledging the serious events happening in the world.

As ballots are finalized and the industry prepares to gather, all eyes are on whether the Oscars can successfully balance Hollywood glamour with the weight of current events and the overall state of the world.

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