As Hollywood reels from the historical, industry-shaking $82.7B Netflix-Warner Bros. deal, Jane Fonda is urging the Department of Justice not to bow to pressure.
On Friday, the 2x Oscar winner, who starred in Netflix‘s Grace & Frankie, condemned the “catastrophic” acquisition as a “constitutional crisis” in a statement on behalf of her newly-revived Committee for the First Amendment, noting that they are “ready to mobilize” against the deal.
“To the Justice Department and state attorneys general: We know this deal — or any deal of this magnitude — will trigger your antitrust review obligation, and we demand that you categorically refrain from using that power to extract political concessions that influence content decisions or chill free speech,” she said in part.
Netflix is purchasing Warner Bros. Discovery for $27.75 a share, acquiring WB’s film and TV studios HBO and HBO Max. The deal is subject to regulatory conditions.
Amid Jimmy Kimmel Live‘s recent row with the FCC, Jane Fonda relaunched her father Henry Fonda’s McCarthy-era committee in October with the support of 550 industry figures.
Read Jane Fonda and the Committee for the First Amendment’s full statement below:
Today’s news that Warner Bros. Discovery has accepted a purchase bid is an alarming escalation of the consolidation that threatens the entire entertainment industry, the democratic public it serves, and the First Amendment itself.
Make no mistake, this is not just a catastrophic business deal that could destroy our creative industry. It is a constitutional crisis exacerbated by the administration’s demonstrated disregard for the law.
To the Justice Department and state attorneys general: We know this deal — or any deal of this magnitude — will trigger your antitrust review obligation, and we demand that you categorically refrain from using that power to extract political concessions that influence content decisions or chill free speech.
To Netflix and any company that becomes involved in this destructive deal: We have watched industry leaders acquiesce to the administration’s demands at the expense of our livelihoods, our storytelling, and our constitutional rights. As stewards of an industry built on free expression, you have a responsibility to defend our rights, not trade them away to pad your pockets. We know there will be enormous pressure to acquiesce, it is critical you stay strong. We are watching closely, organizing, and ready to mobilize.