As we struggle through yet another boring self-congratulatory Oscar ceremony with an interminable runtime, as least we can rest assured that they’re taking precautions during a global pandemic. We heard a week ago that the Academy Awards, scheduled for March 27th, would be doing the absolute minimum required by LA County law. At that time the plan was to require either a negative PCR or rapid antigen test for attendees, taken on the day of the ceremony. The Oscars will take place at the regular location, Dolby Theater, and as far as we’ve heard they will not be socially distanced or limited in attendance. Proof of vaccination and masks were not required. The Academy has since backtracked on that, stating that proof of vaccination is required, along with two negative PCR tests taken on the day of ceremony. They’re only requiring vaccination proof for nominees and their guests. Performers and presenters only have to undergo testing. Masks will also be required for some attendees and guests near the front will be spaced out.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will require all guests and nominees to show proof of vaccination against the coronavirus, as well as two negative P.C.R. tests, in order to attend the Oscars this year, PEOPLE confirms.
The 94th Academy Awards is set to take place at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on March 27. The Dolby Theatre seats roughly 3,320 people, and 2,500 guests are expected at this year’s show.
Performers and presenters will have to undergo “rigorous testing,” but will not be required to show proof of vaccination, a spokeswoman for the Academy first told The New York Times on Thursday.
Additionally, mask requirements will also vary depending on where attendees and nominees are sitting – nominees and their guests will be seated in the orchestra and parterre areas of the Dolby Theatre and will not be required to wear face coverings, but will be spaced out more than usual, per the spokeswoman.
I would prefer that they also cut the ceremony in half and allow virtual appearances from home, but I’ll take it. They should also have upgraded air filtration systems. I wonder why they’re making a vaccine exemption for presenters and performers. As a professional gossip, I’m reading that like a blind item. One of the big A-list presenters isn’t vaccinated I bet. We haven’t heard the presenter list yet. So far we only know that Regina Hall, Amy Schumer and Wanda Sykes are hosting. As Kaiser wrote, I feel so bad for them because you know the material is going to sh-tty as usual.
Update: Thanks to lightpurple for pointing out that Van Morrison is going to be performing his song from Belfast, “Down to Joy.” Van Morrison has denied that he’s anti-vax and states that he’s “freedom of choice with regard to vaccination.” That’s antivax!
photos credit: Avalon.red
Someone needs to out the performers and presenters who aren’t vaccinated.
Van Morrison
Yes. But who? 🤔
Well, at least they’re making some positive changes, right?
I think the thing with the presenters/performers is that yes, probably at least one or two is not vaccinated, but I wonder if its also easier to keep them separate. Like if Jennifer Aniston is there (I know she’s vaccinated, she’s the first big name that came to my mind, lol) presenting, but not nominated obviously, then its pretty easy to keep her in the backstage area by herself (or where masks might be required) and to then not sit her in the front few rows (with no masks) if she sits in the audience at all. Same with the performers. I feel like we rarely see the performers in the audience, so its probably easier to keep them separated backstage? IDK.
I’m definitely going to be tracking the presenters and trying to figure out which one may not be vaccinated.
I think Anniston is vaccinated, I remember her saying she had to cut down some friendship over the vaccine / anti-vaxx stuff !
She definitely is, that’s why I said “I know she’s vaccinated” 🙂 I just threw her out there as the first big celeb name I could think of.
I apologize Becks1, I misread your comment !! I don’t even have the excuse “it’s too early here” since it’s already the afternoon for me 😩
Two problems with separating vaxxed/unvaxxed: 1) the right will scream about how it’s the Holocaust all over again and it’ll overshadow the whole ceremony, and 2) I’m sure celebs’ teams don’t want their clients being outted as antivaxx. It’ll cost them jobs.
With that, it has to be more than just Van Morrison and the only presenters/ performers we can count on being their every year are: past actor winners, original song performers (but they even tried to cut that down in previous years), and the folks connected to Best Picture who “introduce” their respective films throughout the show.
Sidenote: There’s been gossip rumblings that Daniel Kaluuya has a concerning spiritual advisor that raised eyebrows on the set of Nope. He also just fired CAA this wee.
Van Morrison will be performing his song from Belfast. Van Morrison is anti-vaxx.
My suggestion for viewers is to see as many of the movies in all categories as you possibly can, which is much easier in these days of streaming. Most, if not all, of the Best Picture nominees are available for streaming, or will be by the time of the ceremony. All of the animated features and most, if not all, of the long form documentaries are available and some of the short documentaries are too. Same with most of the foreign language films. Many arthouses or museums will have showcases of the live action and animated shorts, so check their schedules. Every year, I am amazed by the incredible films in those categories.
Rumor 1: One of last year’s acting winners, who’s going to present this year, is not vaccinated.
Rumor 2: Daniel Kaluuya allegedly has a guru (girlfriend?) by the name of Heir Holiness.
Could be something. Could be nothing.
I’m maybe missing something but what does Daniel’s girlfriend/guru(?) has to do with this? You are implying he’s not vaccinated? Because I don’t think his girlfriend has any power into that kind of decision and she would be invited, so she would need to be vaxxed.
Not sure what the GF has to do with it, but it was reported in the Hollywood Reporter that one of last year’s acting winners was not vaccinated. They did not mention who.
Then other outlets like IndieWire looked into identifying who that might be. From their article;
“Last week, IndieWire’s Anne Thompson wrote that “one of the four 2021 acting winners traditionally expected to present to this year’s counterparts is not vaccinated, per The Hollywood Reporter. Both Anthony Hopkins and Yuh-jung Youn were publicly jabbed, and no attendee of last year’s New York Film Festival, including Frances McDormand, could get around the strict no-exceptions safety protocols at Lincoln Center. That leaves last year’s Supporting Actor winner Daniel Kaluuya as possibly not vaccinated.”
Sometimes the people we’re with do influence our decision making. Sometime we are with people because we share similar mindsets and attitudes.
Like I said, could be something, could be nothing. It’s just one of the many, many rumors floating around.
ps. And just because she could be invited, doesn’t mean she would attend.
Thank you mia, wasn’t aware of this! I like Daniel, that would suck to learn he isn’t vaccinated
@maddie, ok ? very scripted comments here…. haha
Lena – I really like him too and was super bummed when I read that. Sigh…
Sorry to be the bearer of speculated bad news. Thanks for being kind to the messenger. 😉
I don’t understand why the presenters and performers don’t need to be vaxxed but everyone else does? What’s the difference?
My guess is they realized that list included people who may not be vaxxed but weren’t willing to disinvite or replace them as they are considered VIP. No presenters, no nominees- equals no show.
I feel that is a wishy-washy approach but I can imagine someone unvaxxed and uninvited would very likely use that martyr status for more public anti-vaxx comments and boycotting. Now that we really don’t need.
Sometime in the late 90s I saw Van Morrison opening for Bob Dylan. I was so excited about Van Morrison and at all about Dylan. But VM came onstage looking tired and cranky and gave a lackluster performance. Dylan came on next and rocked the house. That was over 20 years ago. Not surprised VM
hasn’t gotten cooler and more youthful since then.