Stars react after Sony Pictures cancels "The Interview" release
Sony Pictures' decision to pull the Dec. 25 release of its film "The Interview" sparked immediate reaction online, and celebrities are among those speaking out.
The studio's decision came Wednesday, after numerous theater chains in North America dropped the film - which stars Seth Rogen and James Franco -- in the wake of hackers' threatened terrorist attacks.
"In light of the decision by the majority of our exhibitors not to show the film 'The Interview,' we have decided not to move forward with the planned December 25 theatrical release," Sony said in a statement.
"Sony Pictures has been the victim of an unprecedented criminal assault against our employees, our customers, and our business. Those who attacked us stole our intellectual property, private emails, and sensitive and proprietary material, and sought to destroy our spirit and our morale -- all apparently to thwart the release of a movie they did not like," the statement continued. "We are deeply saddened at this brazen effort to suppress the distribution of a movie, and in the process do damage to our company, our employees, and the American public. We stand by our filmmakers and their right to free expression and are extremely disappointed by this outcome."
Rob Lowe was among the first to take to social media to comment on the news, and others including Judd Apatow, Steve Carell, Patton Oswalt, Mia Farrow and Michael Moore soon joined in.
Wow. Everyone caved. The hackers won. An utter and complete victory for them. Wow.
— Rob Lowe (@RobLowe) December 17, 2014
Saw @Sethrogen at JFK. Both of us have never seen or heard of anything like this. Hollywood has done Neville Chamberlain proud today.
— Rob Lowe (@RobLowe) December 17, 2014
What if an anonymous person got offended by something an executive at Coke said. Will we all have to stop drinking Coke?
— Judd Apatow (@JuddApatow) December 17, 2014
. @JuddApatow I agree wholeheartedly. An un-American act of cowardice that validates terrorist actions and sets a terrifying precedent.
— Jimmy Kimmel (@jimmykimmel) December 17, 2014
Really hard to believe this is the response to a threat to freedom of expression here in America.
#TheInterview
— Ben Stiller (@RedHourBen) December 18, 2014
Sad day for creative expression. #feareatsthesoul
— Steve Carell (@SteveCarell) December 17, 2014
Canceling "The Interview" seems like a pretty horrible precedent to set.
— Zach Braff (@zachbraff) December 17, 2014
THE INTERVIEW is now poised to shatter the world record for "spite viewings."
— Patton Oswalt (@pattonoswalt) December 17, 2014
Who wants to see #TheInterviewMovie with me? #fuckthosethreats
— Pedro Pascal (@PedroPascal1) December 17, 2014
The precedent of letting a nation state get away w cyber terrorism is 1 that will set the tone for anyone who wishes 2 suppress our freedoms
— Josh Gad (@joshgad) December 18, 2014
We do not negotiate with terrorists. We just do exactly what they say.
— Damon Wayans Yunior? (@wayansjr) December 18, 2014
While I understand the necessity to pull The Interview, it makes me furious. Free speech is the most admirable tenet in our constitution.
— dax shepard (@daxshepard1) December 18, 2014
Dear Sony Hackers: now that u run Hollywood, I'd also like less romantic comedies, fewer Michael Bay movies and no more Transformers.
— Michael Moore (@MMFlint) December 17, 2014
The tv networks should reimburse Sony for the costs of The Interview and simulcast it in prime time.
— Joshua Malina (@JoshMalina) December 17, 2014
As Sony caves to cyber-terrorism & cancels The Interview, my column on why America needs to stand up to the bullies: http://t.co/X7JxNUFKf3
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) December 17, 2014
Sony is a disgrace. Sickening.
— mia farrow (@MiaFarrow) December 18, 2014
America will NEVER give in to the demands of terrorists! (unless they don't like our movies in which case we will fold like a beach chair.)
— Danny Züker (@DannyZuker) December 17, 2014
So SONY fight back by canceling The Interview, thus proving to the hackers that hacking & threats work very well? That may prove an error.
— Neil Gaiman (@neilhimself) December 17, 2014
So every time anyone ever makes a threat to, say, a chain of stores, or all the airports in the country, we should shut 'em down?
— Richard Roeper (@richardroeper) December 17, 2014
It's a damn shame #TheInterviewMovie is being pulled.
— John Cho (@JohnTheCho) December 17, 2014
#TheInterview Is that all it takes - an anonymous threat and the numbers 911 - to throw free expression under the bus? #PussyNation
— Bill Maher (@billmaher) December 17, 2014