--- title: Batkid Bumped from Oscars: Real-Life Hero Originally Part of Program description: Miles Scott was originally going to appear in the Academy Awards canonical: https://time.com/14452/the-sf-batkid-got-bumped-from-appearing-at-the-academy-awards/ author: Katy Steinmetz article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2014-03-06T19:49:04.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-04-13T07:07:33.857Z og:title: The SF Batkid Got Bumped from Appearing at the Academy Awards og:description: Miles Scott was originally going to appear in the Academy Awards og:url: https://time.com/14452/the-sf-batkid-got-bumped-from-appearing-at-the-academy-awards/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt6a76a4432cf6167e/6986843635ba6f797ac00d25/batkid.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 1500 og:image:height: 844 og:image:alt: Batkid og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: The SF Batkid Got Bumped from Appearing at the Academy Awards twitter:description: Miles Scott was originally going to appear in the Academy Awards twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt6a76a4432cf6167e/6986843635ba6f797ac00d25/batkid.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # The SF Batkid Got Bumped from Appearing at the Academy Awards > Sponsored content. 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Every edition is assembled by TIME editors rather than generated automatically. ### Sources * TIME Newsletters: [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-brief-2026q3/newsletters?i=dc92bfd3-ef0b-4723-a140-27b78c5c6b5d&cr=time-nl-brief-2026q3-v1) by [Katy Steinmetz](https://time.com/author/katy-steinmetz/) ## Katy Steinmetz Mar 6, 2014 7:49 PM UTC  Miles Scott, a 5-year-old leukemia patient, became Batkid when the Make-A-Wish Foundation transformed San Francisco into Gotham City on November, 15, 2013. Miles Scott, a 5-year-old leukemia patient, became Batkid when the Make-A-Wish Foundation transformed San Francisco into Gotham City on November, 15, 2013. Katy Steinmetz / TIME by [Katy Steinmetz](https://time.com/author/katy-steinmetz/) ## Katy Steinmetz Mar 6, 2014 7:49 PM UTC Young Miles Scott, the 5-year-old leukemia patient who became “Batkid” late last year, was originally part of the program for this year’s Oscars ceremony, which had a vague heroes theme. But he got bumped, with little explanation given to the family. The International Business Times [reports](http://www.ibtimes.com/batkid-oscar-appearance-canceled-abruptly-academy-mum-reason-why-1559696) that he was scheduled for a surprise appearance and attended rehearsal on Saturday, before his family was told on Sunday that his participation would no longer be required. “It is kind of a disappointment, but things happen,” his mother Natalie Scott told the _Time_ _s_. “I know that’s how TV goes and how Hollywood is. We’re just not used to that. We’re from a really small town.” The Academy has not responded to a request from TIME about why the segment was canceled. Miles [became a hero](http://newsfeed.time.com/2013/11/15/on-the-scene-with-batkid-the-most-adorable-superhero-the-world-has-ever-known/) to the world after doing derring around San Francisco when the Make-A-Wish Foundation transformed the city into Gotham last November. Crowds of thousands rallied to cheer him on as Miles saved a woman tied up on the cable car tracks and chased down the Penguin, who seal-napped the Giants’ mascot. After rescuing Lou Seal and saving the city from certain destruction, the mayor awarded Miles a key to the city. The streets were awash in goodwill as the Make-A-Wish Foundation announced that Miles’ leukemia was in remission. The day’s adventure quickly went viral, with President Obama even sending out [a Vine thanking Miles](https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/401474141569572864) for his heroics. His appearance at the Oscars, which has gotten [ho-hum reviews](http://time.com/11337/review-pizza-night-at-ellen-degeneres-2014-oscars/), certainly would have been a highlight for the many viewers who had been moved by his story. “We have regular interaction with celebrities, television productions, and other high-profile events and unfortunately we’ve learned that sometimes these type of things happen for a number of different reasons,” a Make-A-Wish official said about the segment being canceled. “Regardless, we shared in the family’s disappointment.” Miles had been outfitted in a tiny tux for the occasion. 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