Oscars 2024: Ceremony delayed after protesters block streets of Hollywood

A protester holds a poster during a demonstration in support of Palestinians calling for a ceasefire in Gaza. Photo / AP

The Oscars ceremony is one of film industry’s most climactic nights. With all eyes on Los Angeles, protesters blocked the streets leading to Hollywood’s Dolby Theatre in support of Palestine, the Academy Awards broadcaster was forced to delay the start of its show, leaving some guests waiting in their seats, dashing to make the show and complaining on social media about gridlocked traffic. Protesters blocked the streets of Hollywood as nominees and attendees arrived in the area for the 96th Academy Awards, causing a delay in the show.

The Academy Awards were originally slated to begin at 7pm EST (1pm NZT), with the red carpet arrivals airing from 6.30 pm EST (11.30am NZT) until then.

However, as stars began to make their way to the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, California, hundreds of demonstrators - protesting in support of the Palestinian cause - filled the streets to block attendees from arriving on time.

Protesters brought traffic to a halt by blocking traffic on Sunset Boulevard for more than 30 minutes, reported Variety.

The protest meant cars making their way to the Dolby Theatre were left at a standstill, forcing some of the ceremony’s attendees to walk from their cars to the theatre.

Moments before the show was scheduled to start, the venue appeared quieter than usual, with nominees still making their way to their seats.

Broadcasting company ABC had to hold off starting the show until 7.05pm EST (1.05pm NZT), at which point enough people had arrived for them to not delay further.

Ariana Grande took to Instagram while she headed to the venue, uploading a faceless photo with the caption “traffic” as she sat bedazzled in jewels and a pink dress.

Protesters have shut down the flow of traffic to the #Oscars red carpet, causing many attendees to get out of their cars and walk to the Dolby Theatre

🎥: Scott Feinberg pic.twitter.com/QBgWoFUbBG

— The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) March 10, 2024

Gridlocked traffic was apparent from social media, with photos and videos circulating of a large group of protesters blocking roads in the streets surrounding the Dolby Theatre, where the Academy Awards have been hosted for the past 22 years.

The gathering held signs that included slogans like “Hollywood’s silence is violence” and “no awards for genocide” as they protested against the industry’s alleged ignorance on the matter and the blacklisting of celebrities who speak out in support of Palestine.

Ariana Grande posted on social media while she was stuck in traffic, after pro-Palestine demonstrators blocked the road and caused the ceremony to be delayed. Photo / Ariana Grande

Several Oscar attendees, including Billie Eilish, Mark Ruffalo and Riz Ahmed, wore red pins depicting a raised hand with a black heart sitting in the palm - the image is the official symbol for Artists for Ceasefire and expresses support for a humanitarian solution in Gaza.

The initiative was started after a group of prominent artists, industry members and creatives signed an open letter that asked the US President and Congress to take steps to de-escalate the conflict between Gaza and Israel and support an immediate ceasefire in the region.

“We urge your administration, Congress and all world leaders, to honour all of the lives in the Holy Land and call for and facilitate a ceasefire without delay - an end to the bombing of Gaza and the safe release of hostages,” the letter said.

The 96th Academy Awards have been filled with shocks and surprises, such as Cillian Murphy and Robert Downey Jr winning the first Oscars of their careers.

A protester holds a sign reading "No Oscars during a genocide". Photo / AP

Many winners used their time on stage to share messages of peace and justice. John Glazer, who directed the film The Zone of Interest which won the award for Best International Feature, drew parallels between the subject of his film and the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in his acceptance speech.

The Zone of Interest is a German-language film set during the Holocaust that follows the day-to-day life of Nazi commandant of Auschwitz, Rudolf Höss, and his wife as they raise a family while living next to the concentration camp. “All our choices were made to reflect and confront us in the present,” Glazer said to the crowd as they applauded him with a standing ovation. “Our film shows where dehumanisation leads at its worst.”

In a separate speech, Ukrainian director Mstyslav Chernov made an impassioned plea for his country’s future as he accepted the award for outstanding documentary feature for his work, 20 Days in Mariupol.

“This is the first Oscar in Ukrainian history. And I’m honoured. But probably I will be the first director on this stage who will say I wish I had never made this film,” Chernov said. “I wish to be able to exchange this for Russia never attacking Ukraine, never occupying our cities.”

You can find the full list of Oscar winners here.