Official Oscar Nominees Luncheon Goes Vegan  

Today, the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences—which is behind the Academy Awards (also known as the “Oscars”)—served a fully vegan menu at its Oscar Nominees luncheon. The Academy also committed to serving only vegan food in the Dolby Theater prior to the 92nd annual Academy Awards. “The Academy is an organization of storytellers from around the world, and we owe our global membership a commitment to supporting the planet,” The Academy said in a statement to Variety. “For the past decade, the Academy has been committed to reducing its carbon footprint. For the past seven years, the Oscars show has had a net zero carbon imprint. We continue to expand our sustainability plan with the ultimate goal of becoming carbon neutral.” While food before the ceremony will be vegan, the Governor’s Ball—the official party that follows the Oscars on February 9—will increase its plant-based food options to 70 percent of the menu (which was half vegetarian in previous years) while continuing to serve meat, dairy, and eggs. In its bid to be more environmentally friendly, the Academy will also remove all plastic bottles from both the luncheon and Governor’s Ball. In early January, the Golden Globes kicked off awards season by becoming the first ceremony of its kind to offer a fully vegan menu, inspiring the Screen Actors Guild Awards to follow suit. This year’s Critics’ Choice Awards served a meatless menu with vegan options from Baja Fresh and The Counter. During its annual pre-Oscar party this year, William Morris Endeavor Entertainment (WME)—the talent agency that represents 2020 Oscar nominee for best actor, and longtime vegan, Joaquin Phoenix—will serve a fully vegan menu for the first time on February 7.