YOUR FAVORITE MTV SHOWS ARE ON PARAMOUNT+

Will Smith Won't Go To Oscars, Others May Follow His Lead

Some entertainers uncomfortable due to newly launched war.

While Oscar officials have chosen to keep the Academy Awards scheduled for Sunday in Hollywood, some entertainers don't agree with that decision given the newly launched war on Iraq.

Will Smith has withdrawn as a presenter at the ceremony, and other celebrities may now follow.

Oscar officials said on Tuesday the show will go on without the usual glitz of red carpet arrivals (see [article id="1470629"]"Academy Awards To Air, But TV Execs Proceed Cautiously As War Looms"[/article]), and organizers of the night's many parties have since canceled their red carpet press coverage as well.

Barbara Walters has postponed her Academy Award night special on ABC, which was to feature interviews with Nicolas Cage, Renée Zellweger and other actors.

Meanwhile, the IFP Independent Spirit Awards on Saturday will go on as planned, including red carpet arrivals.

"It is our feeling that our ceremonies, and the arrivals that precede it, have always had a different tone than other events," executive director Dawn Hudson said in a statement. "The Spirit Awards have always been a place where artists come together and speak their minds. It is our hope that Saturday's ceremonies will provide both this type of forum as well as focus on independent film."

On Wednesday night, as several television outlets provided live coverage of military strikes on targets near Baghdad (see [article id="1470661"]"Bush Addresses Nation, Confirms Attack On Iraq Has Begun"[/article]), FOX elected to broadcast the latest "American Idol," on which Charles Grigsby was eliminated.

In other Oscar news, Queen Latifah and Catherine Zeta-Jones have been added to the ceremony and will perform their nominated song "I Move On" from "Chicago" (see [article id="1469902"]" 'Chicago' Nabs Most Oscar Noms; Eminem, U2 Get Props"[/article]).

Latest News