Jane Fonda Issues Blunt Warning About the $82.7 Billion Netflix-Warner Bros. Deal
What To Know
- Jane Fonda publicly criticized the $82.7 billion Netflix-Warner Bros. deal, calling it a dangerous escalation of media consolidation.
- She urged the Department of Justice and state attorneys general to rigorously review entertainment mergers for antitrust compliance.
- Fonda called on Netflix and other involved companies to prioritize defending free expression over profit, issuing a bold warning.
Jane Fonda just issued a blunt warning about the $82.7 billion deal between Netflix and Warner Bros.
On Friday, December 5, the actress, 87, posted a joint Instagram update with the Committee for the First Amendment. Fonda described the Netflix-Warner Bros. deal as an “alarming escalation in a consolidation crisis that threatens the entire entertainment industry, the public it serves and — potentially — the First Amendment itself.”
She then made a bold prediction, writing, “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.”
Additionally, the Barbarella actress sent a direct message to the Department of Justice in the accompanying op-ed she wrote for The Ankler.
She shared, “We must demand that the Justice Department and state attorneys general evaluate every proposed entertainment merger for compliance with antitrust laws. These reviews cannot be treated as procedural formalities or political leverage; they are the last line of defense against media consolidation that threatens competition, creative freedom, and democratic discourse.”
View this post on Instagram
Fonda also addressed Netflix, as well as other companies that might take part in the deal, writing, “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.”
In the comments, a handful of notable names weighed in. Monica Lewinsky wrote, “🙌🙌🙌❤️.”
Andy Cohen similarly shared, “👏👏👏👏👏.”
Film director Dawn Porter replied, “Finally — I feel like I’ve been screaming into the wind.”
Someone else pointed out, “I worry the plan is to get rid of unions in Hollywood.”
Mark Ruffalo also “liked” the post.
View this post on Instagram
A news release from Netflix on December 5 announced the deal with Warner Bros.
Netflix’s co-CEO and former chief content officer, Ted Sarandos, explained, “By combining Warner Bros.’ incredible library of shows and movies — from timeless classics like Casablanca and Citizen Kane to modern favorites like Harry Potter and Friends — with our culture-defining titles like Stranger Things, KPop Demon Hunters and Squid Game, we’ll be able to do that even better. Together, we can give audiences more of what they love and help define the next century of storytelling.”
What do you think of the Netflix-Warner Bros. deal?
Conversation11 Comments
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Out of all of her roles, including two which won Academy awards, and you had to pick "Barbarella" as the movie you reference? Do better.
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Yes
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F
What do I think? What Jane Fonda said. Couldn't have said it better.
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D
This has been alarming me for a long time. These big mergers, pretty much in any industry, are never good for the public. Or the industry involved. That’s why anti-trust laws were put into place in the first place. Why do we always forget the lessons of the past? If one, or only a few companies own all of some industry, they can charge what they want, do whatever they want, which will always be to their advantage-not ours. Innovation dies because they don’t have to make new or better products if we are forced to buy from them because they are the only game in town. It’s disgusting how the CEOs try to spin it to say that it’s good for us when it is only good for those at the top-not even good for the regular employees, those who are downsized, and certainly not for the public. Go Jane Fonda!!!
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Seriously you write "Barberella" as her claim to fame.. I am embarrassed for this writer!
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None of these people cared when it happened to musicians. Fuck ‘em!
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ummmm..ok...decorum please!!!
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Una catástrofe que traerá graves consecuencias en el futuro. No solo para la comunidad artística, sino también para gran parte de la humanidad, la cual es el gran objetivo de todo lo que se transmite a través de la pantalla. Dejando este asunto en una sola mano (la de Netflix), con una sola línea, la diversidad creativa se acaba y la transformación de la sociedad corre un grave peligro. Los medios son claves en las transformaciones sociales y si Netflix que es un gigante se adueña de Warner y HBO, quién podrá contra él. Realmente esto necesita una revisión exhaustiva y tomar una decisión libre de vicios.
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B
Blow up your TV. Move to the country...
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R
Bring back found and Grosse Pointe Garden Society good tv shows
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Whatever!!
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