‘Hacks’ Star Jean Smart Says Hollywood Should Not Air Award Shows, and Donate to Wildfire Relief Instead

Lauren Novak January 9, 6:02 pm

HACKS, Jean Smart, (Season 3, ep. 303, aired May 9, 2024) — Hilary Bronwyn Gayle/HBO Max/Everett Collection

Despite recently winning a Golden Globe award, Jean Smart is suggesting that Hollywood change things up this award show season. California is currently struggling with blazing wildfires; people are running for their lives, several have died and many have lost their homes. With all of the tragedy going on, Smart suggested that networks consider not televising upcoming award shows and donating the money to wildfire relief instead.

“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 the victims of the fires and the firefighters,” she wrote on Instagram on January 8, 2025.

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Several of the award shows and television/movie premieres have already been postponed to later this month because of the fires. While several of Smart’s fans applauded her post and noted that maybe the money should go towards donations instead of expensive swag bags, one person shared a different perspective.

Someone commented, in part, “As an employee for said award shows — those of us ‘below the line’ rely on award season financially to get us through the year. Jean, my job as a talent executive exists solely to celebrate your achievements and ensure you and your peers have an enjoyable time at these events. Productions shutting down will further contribute to the demise of LA. How will those of us rebuild if we can’t work?”

A structure burns during the Palisades Fire in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, US, on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. Uncontrolled wildfires tore through parts of the Los Angeles region, fanned by extreme winds, forcing thousands of residents to flee and grounding firefighting aircraft

Kyle Grillot/Bloomberg via Getty Images

For now, the Critics Choice Awards has been postponed until Jan. 26, the nominations for the Academy Awards and SAG Awards are being postponed and production has been halted for shows and movies filming in the Hollywood area. Over 130,000 residents are under evacuation orders as the fires continue to rage across the coast.