Kamala Harris has shut down speculation she was set to make a surprise guest appearance at Sunday night’s Oscars with a behind-the-scenes glimpse into her ‘watch party’ from home.
The former vice president was named earlier on Sunday as a guest at the 97th annual celebrations, with whispers she was set to lead a segment paying tribute to the Los Angeles firefighters who valiantly fought devastating wildfires in January.
But her husband, Doug, put those rumors to rest just an hour before the ceremony was due to kick off with a post to X captioned: ‘Oscars watch party prep.’
The photo featured a make-up free Harris pouring Doritos into a bowl, with her hair swept back in a bun and wearing a black sweater.
She was all smiles in the photo, which appeared to be taken in the couple’s kitchen.
Hollywood bible Deadline had reported Harris’ supposed presence Sunday afternoon, citing a federal source who said beefed up security at the event was in part due to her appearance.
The ceremony is set to honor firefighters and workers who helped battle deadly wildfires that swept Los Angeles in January and destroyed huge swathes of the city.
Harris was previously a Democrat senator for California.
She’s also rumored to be considering a future run to become Governor of California, so could well lead the Oscars’ segment on the fires.
Locals say security at Hollywood’s Dolby Theatre, where the 97th Oscars are held, is at an all-time high.
All vehicles wishing to pass the security cordon have to let sniffer dogs inside, one cop was overheard saying.
A huge convoy of black minibuses filled with elite private security was also seen being let into the compound.
One federal official working the event told Deadline: ‘We live in a new evolving security environment.
‘The expected attendance of the former vice president is a major factor in the added security.’
The fed added that there weren’t any credible threats to the event and that the huge security presence was a precautionary one.
Los Angeles Police Department have refused to comment on the dramatic surge in security, which Deadline reports is unusual.
The Oscars, which are run by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, are due to be screened from 7pm ET Sunday.
In recent years, Oscars bosses have been accused of fixating on niche woke films that push a progressive message over crowd-pleasing blockbusters.
This year’s show is being hosted by comedian Conan O’Brien, who is known to avoid political jokes.
But that will likely do little to silence President Trump, a former reality star who has been outspoken in his condemnation of the ceremony on multiple occasions.
Last year he suggested host Jimmy Kimmel was the worst in the show’s history.
Favorites to sweep the awards include heartwarming prostitute romcom Anora and The Brutalist, which stars Adrien Brody as a brutalist architect.