Variety was the first to announce that Kendrick Lamar will not be performing at the Academy Awards.
Additionally, the Academy came under fire for revealing that only Kendrick Lamar, SZA, and Lady Gaga would be performing at the show, excluding the other songs that are nominated.
SZA was asked to perform the song solo with a prerecorded backing track at the Academy Awards and turned it down.
Kendrick Lamar and SZA have made the decision not to sing live.