President Obama Telling Sony it ‘Made a Mistake’ Draws Mixed Social Media Reaction
From Hollywood stars to media experts, many people were quick to chime in on President Barack Obama chastising Sony for pulling “The Interview” from theaters in the wake of the recent crippling cyberattack.
Obama sympathized with Sony’s plight during a press conference Friday, but he was firm in his stance that not releasing the Seth Rogen-James Franco comedy following two journalists charged with assassinating North Korea’s leader Kim Jong-un was a mistake.
See photos: Sony Hack Attack Timeline: From First Cyberbreach and Leaks to ‘The Interview’ Dropped (Photos)
“I am sympathetic to the concerns that they faced … having said all that, yes, I think they made a mistake,” Obama told the nation from the White House at the year-end press conference.
“We cannot have a society in which a dictatorship, in some place, can start imposing censorship here in the United States,” he said. “That’s not who we are. That’s not what America is about.”
Also Read: President Obama: Sony ‘Made a Mistake’ in Canceling ‘The Interview’
Obama’s comments comes days after Hollywood stars such as Rob Lowe, director Judd Apatow, comedian Steve Carell and George Clooney expressed their disappointment in Sony axing the comedy’s Christmas release.
Some tweeters compared Obama’s stance to his 2012 presidential debate. Others pointed out the president’s preference of answering questions from female reporters.
Obama’s flub on James Franco’s last name as “Flacco” sparked a new hashtag — #jamesflacco — within minutes, as Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco tweeted a family welcome to the actor.
Here’s what else social media had to say:
Also Read: Hollywood Outraged at Sony’s Decision to Dump ‘The Interview’
#2014In5Words: The Interview starring James Flacco? pic.twitter.com/159svcmqNu
— E! Online (@eonline) December 19, 2014
Actor John Cho
President Obama just said that Sony caving to hackers and pulling #TheInterview was “a mistake.” — Rob Lowe (@RobLowe) December 19, 2014
see how newsy press conferences can be when women ask the questions? — gwen ifill (@gwenifill) December 19, 2014
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) December 19, 2014
Say hello again to the Obama from the first 2012 debate. — Farhad Manjoo (@fmanjoo) December 19, 2014
Obama liberated! Cuba, Sony. I like it. Hello again, Mr. President, where’ve you been all this time? #POTUS #Obama — Roger Cohen (@NYTimesCohen) December 19, 2014
Barack Obama is the busiest “lame duck” I have ever seen! #newday New kind of duck. #letsgetbusy
— Arsenio Hall (@ArsenioHall) December 18, 2014
Obama knocked it out of the park on Sony and the hack. And James Franco’s new nickname.
— Husain Sumra (@hsumra) December 19, 2014
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Sony Hit With Fourth Class-Action Lawsuit Following Cyberattack
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MPAA's Chris Dodd Calls Sony Hack 'Despicable, Criminal Act'
