Conan O’Brien, Still Displaced by Wildfires, Says Oscars Will Reflect Sensitivity to Recent Tragedy

PARK CITY, Utah (AP) — Conan O’Brien, the host of the upcoming 97th Academy Awards, shared that he is still unable to return to his home following the devastating wildfires that swept through Los Angeles. He emphasized that the show’s organizers are planning the event with great care, acknowledging the ongoing struggles faced by residents affected by the fires.

"Everybody I know has been affected," O'Brien said in an interview with The Associated Press on Friday. "I’m out of my house. Fortunately, my house... the fire got very close, but my house survived. But we won’t be back in there for a long time. And I’m the lucky one. I mean, I know so many people who lost their homes, and I was just ridiculously lucky. So we want to make sure that the show reflects what’s happening and that we shine a light on the right people in the right way."

Thousands of Los Angeles residents saw their homes destroyed by fires that ravaged neighborhoods like Pacific Palisades and Altadena earlier this month. Many who still have homes standing are unable to return due to smoke damage or other lingering effects.

O'Brien, who was announced as the host for this year's Oscars back in 2024, said the recent fires have reshaped Hollywood's awards season. The fires even led to two delays in the Academy’s nominations announcement, which was finally made on Thursday, with Emilia Pérez emerging as the leading nominee.

While some have questioned whether the Oscars should be canceled altogether, O’Brien confirmed that organizers are committed to adapting the event. "We want to be sensitive to the moment, and we want to be sensitive to what’s happened," he said. "It’s top of our minds, and we are talking about it a lot."

The ceremony is scheduled for March 2, and O'Brien assured that it will reflect the ongoing challenges faced by the community. "We want to make sure that we process all of that and that we put on the best show for March 2, not the best show we thought of tonight or the best show for March 3," he explained. "It needs to be the best show that reflects what people are feeling in that moment."

O'Brien, best known for hosting The Tonight Show for several years, was attending the premiere of his new film If I Had Legs I’d Kick You, which also stars Rose Byrne.