Kamala Harris Now Not Attending Oscars Amidst Hollywood Security Lockdown – Update
UPDATE: The stars will be out today at the Oscars, but Kamala Harris won’t be among them after all.
Expected to attend the 97th Academy Awards according to several sources, the former Veep is staying home Sunday. The new plan was made public by ex-Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff just now.
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Amidst much heavier than usual security, the decision not to attend was made earlier this afternoon for a variety of reasons, we’re told. While AMPAS did not respond earlier Sunday to request for comment from Deadline on Harris’ attendance at the Conan O’Brien hosted ceremony, an Academy source did tell us “not true” about the VP coming.
PREVIOUSLY, 12:45 PM: No word if Kamala Harris is presenting or not, but there’s a very good chance the former Vice President will be attending the 97th Academy Awards today.
The anticipated arrival by the 2024 Democratic candidate for the White House comes as security in and around the Dolby Theatre is at an all-time high with a modern-day Praetorian Guard of LAPD, federal law enforcement and more shutting down Hollywood. “All vehicles have to let the dogs in,” one officer was heard saying on a gated and blockaded Hollywood Blvd this morning as a convoy of black mini-buses brought in more private security and others with the K-9 units sniffing them all down.
“We live in a new evolving security environment,” a federal official told Deadline Sunday as Black tie staff with walkie-talkies and cops surrounded the tented red carpet entrance to the Dolby. “The expected attendance of the former vice president is a major factor in the added security,” another law enforcement officer went on to say.
Representatives of AMPAS did not respond to request for comment on Harris coming to the ABC broadcasted 4 p.m. PT/7 p.m. ET Academy Awards today. However, an Academy source poured ice cold water on Harris showing, up. “Not true,” they said.
VP or not, the protective Tinseltown dome around the Dolby was greater than ever this year.
This year, at the last minute, Oscar credentialing required even more clearance for red carpet reporters and crew: Green lanyards. In addition to photograph badges for the media, all reporters were pre-screened by the police in advance, the AMPAS press office required the wearing of green lanyards. Said one industry source, “That’s dinosaur stuff. AI knows where you are nowadays. They’re probably ten years behind the technology in the world today.”
Unusually, the LAPD had no comment on security measure for the event.
The post will be updated if either AMPAS or the LAPD do have an official statement. Worth noting, unlike past Oscars, the LAPD did not send out a street closure advisory in the weeks leading up to today’s ceremony.
Other officials noted that there was some flux if the ex-VP and her husband Doug Emhoff would be in the Dolby for sure with the overheated political climate.
“There are no credible threats,” the federal official Deadline spoke to said.
The rain that was predicted to fall on the Oscars never arrived Sunday, but Hollywood Blvd is gated on both sides from Cahuenga Boulevard on the East and Le Brea on the West with crossing cut off as of Wilcox. Bomb squads are on site and there is zero access to Highland, though the red carpet can plainly be seen from about a block away. Streets going North and South off Hollywood Blvd are also blocked, with “Road Closed” barrier and police on Highland from Sunset up. Highland down from Franklin is blocked until 4 a.m. Monday morning, the cops say.
The ex-VP’s anticipated stint at tonight’s Oscars isn’t her first appearance on the Awards circuit this season. Receiving the Chairman’s Award, Harris was at the NAACP Image Awards on February 22. Without naming her 2024 rival Donald Trump, the now LA resident warned the star studded crowd of “shadows gathering over our democracy.”
As in past years, Harris has also been active on the party circuit too this weekend.
The former Veep was at CAA boss Bryan Lourd’s private Oscar soiree on March 1 with a packed crowd of fellow A-listers, I’m told. Staying mum so far on her post-DC plans, former California Attorney General and Senator, Harris joined Joe Biden signing with CAA last month.
As for the security around the Oscars, a lot of it is out of site as usual, but still at a heightened level.
Said Kent Moyer, CEO and Founder of The World Protection Group on the great number of cops on the street as Harris rolls into town, “They’re moving out the outer ring of protection” He added: “Basically, law enforcement wants to show force, and act as a deterrent: You can’t get near the place because it’s fortified. The whole profile looks better.”
In regard to drone protection, which is become an absolute necessary at awards ceremonies and major entertainment functions throughout the city, Moyer says, “It’s a perfect day for drones because there’s no rain. If you’re not using a drone at an event like this, you’re leaving out an element of protection, which is the fourth ring of protection in the sky. There’s going to be a great number of people at the Oscars. If law enforcement is trying to get to a crime, that drone is the fastest response.”
Any protests nearing the Hollywood ovation area have to be cleared with the LAPD in advance. The question is how big the turnout is, and whether that stalls attendees from getting into the Dolby Theatre and Hollywood and Highland complex, as it has in recent years. Law enforcement sources tell us no protests are expected today. They do cautioned that pro-Ukraine demonstrators could still show up, as they have around LA since the February 28 blow-up in the Oval Office between the seemingly pro-Russia Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky
With or without protesters or former VPs, the The 97th annual Oscars airs on ABC Sunday, March 2 starting at 4 p.m. PT/7 p.m. ET. For the first time, the ceremony will also be streaming live on Hulu.
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