News that Sony was canceling The Interview’s Stateside release brought out heartfelt reactions Wednesday from Hollywood’s finest. Jimmy Kimmel, Steve Carell, and Aaron Sorkin led a concerned pack of celebrities venting on social media about free speech and the studio’s cautious response to terror threats, which referenced 9/11. Sony’s unprecedented decision came Wednesday afternoon, after five of the nation’s biggest theater chains said they would pull Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg’s dark comedy from screens because of safety concerns. Here are some of today’s reactions:
Aaron Sorkin:
Today the U.S. succumbed to an unprecedented attack on our most cherished, bedrock principle of free speech by a group of North Korean terrorists who threatened to kill moviegoers in order to stop the release of a movie. … The wishes of the terrorists were fulfilled in part by easily distracted members of the American press who chose gossip and schadenfreude-fueled reporting over a story with immeasurable consequences for the public — a story that was developing right in front of their eyes. My deepest sympathies go out to Sony Pictures, Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg and everyone who worked on The Interview.