An Academy Awards production worker was reportedly mugged while setting up this year’s ceremony at Union Station in Los Angeles.
The Oscars usually take place at the Dolby Theater in Hollywood, but have been relocated to the train station, which is located in the city’s dangerous Downtown area, close to tent cities set up by the homeless.
The mugging allegedly took place earlier this week and the offender has not yet been detained, TMZ reports. Further details on what was stolen, and whether the Oscars worker was injured have not been shared.
The outlet also claims that another criminal incident occurred at Union Station on Sunday, with a man breaching barricades and running past security. He was later arrested for battery.
The attacks have many LA locals wondering why the glitzy ceremony was moved to the station, with trains continuing to rumble through it during Sunday’s awards.
Union Station is used by hundreds of homeless people in the city, some of whom say they have been ‘forced out’ of the area by city officials so they don’t interfere with the glamor of the star-studded evening.
One homeless person told Fox 11 that unidentified officials tried to ‘force’ the unhoused from the surrounds of the historic station to Grand Hotel – 1.5 miles away.
‘They came to us about a week ago saying that we had to move by Friday 6 pm because they were trying to clean up for the Oscars and they told us if we didn’t move, they were gonna just demolish our stuff,’ the homeless man told the news network.
‘They forced us to go to the Grand Hotel on 3rd and Figueroa and they kicked everybody out of Union Station so it looks better for the image.’
Los Angeles County has a reported homeless population of 91,000. Many of those cluster in tent cities set up in Downtown LA.
An Academy Awards production worker was reportedly mugged while setting up this year’s ceremony at Union Station in Los Angeles. The Oscars usually take place at the Dolby Theater in Hollywood, but have been relocated to the train station, which is located in the city’s dangerous Downtown area, close to tent cities set up by the homeless
A homeless man is seen sitting on the sidewalk outside Union Station late last week
The glitzy awards show will be held Sunday at Union Station – a train station located in the Downtown area near tent cities set up by vagrants
However, despite the accusations, City Council member Kevin De Leon denied that any homeless people were ‘forced’ out.
‘While the 93rd Academy Awards are being held at Union Station this year, and despite irresponsible rumors, NO unhoused residents are being forced to relocate,’ he told Fox 11 in a statement.
Meanwhile, a media rep for the Academy Awards told Fox News that organizers for the ceremony ‘have worked with several community, county and city nonprofits to limit disruption for Union Station’s homeless population, including the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority and People Assisting the Homeless’.
They similarly stated that no vagrants were ‘forced’ out of the area.
The city is being ordered to dedicate $1billion to its homeless problem, with a federal judge ordering last week that every homeless person on Skid Row must be offered housing by October 18.
The first 98 people to soon be formerly homeless are moving into the studio apartments with private kitchens and bathrooms, according to CBS2.
One homeless person told Fox 11 that unidentified officials tried to ‘force’ the unhoused from the surrounds of the historic station to Grand Hotel – 1.5 miles away
Los Angeles city officials are under fire amid accusations they have tried to move homeless people away from the site of this year’s Academy Awards. Skid Row in the city’s Downtown is pictured
Meanwhile, for the past 18 years, the Oscars have been held at Dolby Theater in Hollywood, where 3,000 guests attend the ceremony.
However, this year, the festivity has had to be drastically scaled down due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Just 170 people will attend the awards show inside Union Station, where trains will continue to run throughout the ceremony.
Union Station has been given a $4 million restoration and has been seen in many classic Hollywood films, including Blade Runner, The Way We Were, and The Dark Knight Rises.
However, many people have mocked the pared-down festivities, including comedian Bill Maher, who recently ridiculed the idea of the glitzy show being held in a train station.
Skid Row – an area located just one mile from Union Station – has to up 8,000 vagrants living in tents set up on streets and sidewalks.
A view of Union Station is seen during preparations for the 93rd Annual Academy Awards
Union Station has been given a $4 million restoration and has been seen in many classic Hollywood films, including Blade Runner, The Way We Were, and The Dark Knight Rises. However, many people have mocked the pared-down festivities, including comedian Bill Maher, who recently ridiculed the idea of the glitzy show being held in a train station
This year’s nominated films have also generated very little enthusiasm, as cinemas across North America have been shuttered for most of the past year due to the pandemic.
Nomadland, which is the favorite to win Best Picture, grossed just $2.5 million at the box office.
If it takes home the prize, it will be the lowest grossing Best Picture winner in Oscar History.
Meanwhile, the ceremony will be broadcast on ABC, but network bosses may also be bracing for dismal viewing numbers.
Recent awards shows, including the Grammys and The Golden Globes, failed to attract strong ratings.
Last year’s Academy Awards garnered 23 million viewers, but execs are theorizing that this year’s ceremony will not attract a number that large.
Scaled down: The Oscars will have just 170 guests, and there is very little interest in this year’s nominated films