Oscars on edge: FBI warns Iran could launch drone strike as Hollywood gathers
Conan O’Brien and Hollywood’s biggest stars are preparing for what insiders have told the media will be a night overshadowed by fear—after a chilling alert that Iran could attempt a drone strike against California as the Oscars take place.
The 98th Academy Awards will take place Sunday at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, hosted by Conan O’Brien, 62, and attended by leading nominees including Jessie Buckley and Timothée Chalamet.
But behind the usual glamour of the red carpet, security teams have quietly escalated precautions after the F.B.I. warned law enforcement Iran may have explored launching drones toward the U.S. west coast as retaliation for recent American military action.
Authorities said the intelligence is precautionary and lacks confirmed targets or timing, but the alert has triggered coordination between federal agencies, Los Angeles police and private security units guarding Hollywood’s most high-profile event.
Oscars Producers Stress Extensive Security Planning
Raj Kapoor, executive producer of the Oscars, acknowledged the tense backdrop while insisting organizers are relying on extensive security planning to protect the event.
He said: "I feel like on this show, we have one of the best teams in the business in all aspects, and that comes down to our security team. So, of course, every year we monitor what’s going on in the world.
"We have the support of the F.B.I. and the L.A.P.D., and it’s a close collaboration.
"This show has to run like clockwork. But we want everybody who is coming to this show, who is witnessing the show, who is even a fan of the show, when they’re standing outside the barricades. We want everybody to feel safe, protected, and welcome.
"It’s our job as a producing team to make sure that that translates, and that really comes down to us with this very tight relationship, and we have a whole other team of support.
"It’s something that we don’t take lightly and we take a lot of responsibility for."
Celebrities ’Anxious Behind The Scenes’
One private security contractor who works with several A-list celebrities expected to attend the ceremony said anxiety has spread among those preparing to walk the red carpet.
He told us: "There is genuine unease behind the scenes because everyone understands the Oscars is one of the most visible events in the world. If someone wanted attention, that stage would deliver it.
"Clients are now asking detailed questions about evacuation routes, airspace monitoring and how quickly the venue could be locked down if something appeared in the sky."
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