BuzzFeed and Yahoo may earn commission from links in this article. Pricing and availability subject to change.

Here's What Kristen Bell Had To Say About Awards Shows Going On After The California Wildfires

Natasha Jokic
·1-min read

Kristen Bell expressed her initial hesitation over hosting this year's Screen Actors Guild Awards.

Person in elegant black gown holding a small black purse at an awards event with sponsor logos in the background
Person in elegant black gown holding a small black purse at an awards event with sponsor logos in the background

The actor is returning to host the awards, which will be streamed on Netflix, after being the first-ever SAG Awards host back in 2018. She's also nominated for Best Actress in a Comedy Series for her role in Nobody Wants This.

Rodin Eckenroth / WireImage
Rodin Eckenroth / WireImage

However, the devastation caused by the California wildfires initially led Kristen to think that all of the awards season should be scrapped due to feeling "superfluous" this year. She told People, "I felt, ‘We should cancel all of the awards this year and donate all of the money!’"

People in protective suits examine the remains of a burned building surrounded by debris and charred trees
People in protective suits examine the remains of a burned building surrounded by debris and charred trees

However, it was the fact that "hundreds if not thousands of jobs for people in Los Angeles who need them" would be called off that led her to reconsider her perspective. She continued, "Gig workers, musicians, hairstylists, makeup artists, drivers, caterers, tech workers — it’s actually imperative to the economy of rebuilding that we have these awards shows."

Woman in a strapless, sparkling gown stands on red carpet with floral backdrop, posing for a photo
Woman in a strapless, sparkling gown stands on red carpet with floral backdrop, posing for a photo

Moreover, she hoped that the show going forward would allow "people to have a night of just fun, normal, goofy jokes."

ADVERTISEMENT

That being said, Kristen initially turned down the gig. As she put it, "I was coming off of 8 months of not working — well, you can say not working, but I’ve been a stay-at-home mom, which is a whole load [of] work in and of itself and more emotional work than anything." Thankfully, her hunch that it would "oddly be creatively fun" paid off.

Actress on red carpet in elegant off-the-shoulder gown, hair styled up
Actress on red carpet in elegant off-the-shoulder gown, hair styled up

You can read the full interview here.