A still from The Interview.
Stars, politicians and pundits are weighing in on Sony Pictures Entertainment's decision Wednesday to cancel the December 25 release of
The Interview, the Seth Rogen-James Franco comedy at the center of the North Korean cyberattack that has seen thousands of Sony's private documents and other proprietary materials released online: (Also Read:
George Clooney Slams Hollywood For Not Supporting Sony After Hack)
Michael Moore on Twitter: "Dear Sony Hackers: now that u run Hollywood, I'd also like less romantic comedies, fewer Michael Bay movies and no more Transformers. Also, Sony Hackers - I really liked Tyler Perry in
Gone Girl so hold off on doing anything yet with Madea."
Donald Trump via video on Facebook: "Sony has absolutely no courage or guts. They should have never pulled it."
Newt Gingrich on Twitter : "No one should kid themselves. With the Sony collapse America has lost its first cyberwar. This is a very very dangerous precedent."
Steve Carell on Twitter: "Sad day for creative expression. #feareatsthesoul"
Rep Steve Israel, D-New York, on Twitter: "We should not let a pathological regime in N. Korea intimidate us. I'd be 1st on line to see #TheInterviewMovie. Dear @SonyPictures - please make #TheInterviewMovie available in DVD so I can decide whether to see it, not N. Korea."
Screenwriter Aaron Sorkin in a statement: "Today the US 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."
Jimmy Kimmel to Judd Apatow on Twitter: "An un-American act of cowardice that validates terrorist actions and sets a terrifying precedent."
Judd Apatow on Twitter: "This only guarantees that this movie will be seen by more people on Earth than it would have before. Legally or illegally all will see it."
Rob Lowe on Twitter: "Wow. Everyone caved. The hackers won. An utter and complete victory for them. Wow. Saw @Sethrogen at JFK. Both of us have never seen or heard of anything like this. Hollywood has done Neville Chamberlain proud today."
Bill Maher on Twitter: "Is that all it takes - an anonymous threat and the numbers 911 - to throw free expression under the bus?"
Comedian Patton Oswalt on Twitter: :
The Interview is now poised to shatter the world record for "spite viewings.""
President Obama to ABC News: "My recommendation would be that people go to the movies."