The Academy’s COVID Strategy Must Prioritize Oscar Attendees’ Safety

variety.com:

Claudia Eller Co-Editor-in-ChiefAs of this writing, the Motion Picture Academy has yet to officially announce its policy regarding COVID protocols for next month’s Oscar ceremony.Nonetheless, many in the Hollywood community are going on the assumption that The Hollywood Reporter’s Feb.

9 scoop that no proof of vaccination will be required for the March 27 awards show at the Dolby Theatre is already set in stone.

And I’ve spoken with multiple insiders over the past week who tell me they’re plenty furious and flummoxed about a no-vax requirement if that turns out to be the case.Right after THR broke its story, Seth MacFarlane, who is livid over the matter, tweeted that for the Academy not to mandate vaccines is a “colossal abdication of responsible management.

I cannot fathom what piece of information we might be missing that would justify this.” Frankly, I’m surprised that more industry power players haven’t raised a greater public stink when privately they’ve been complaining to me, and I’m sure to other journalists, very loudly.“Why isn’t anybody doing anything about this?” a frustrated executive griped to me the other day. “It’s unconscionable,” another person said to me over lunch.I’m told the situation remains fluid as the Academy continues to work closely with Los Angeles County officials before landing on a decision, which I hear will likely come this week.One thing I know for certain is the Academy is going to cut down on the number of invited guests.