Jane Fonda and CFA Speak Out Against "Catastrophic" Netflix-Warner Bros Deal: "We Are Keeping a Close Eye"

Hollywood is facing a seismic shift with the announcement of Netflixs $82.7 billion acquisition of Warner Bros., prompting Jane Fonda to call on the Department of Justice to resist external pressures. The two-time Oscar winner, known for her role in Netflixs Grace & Frankie, labeled the merger a constitutional crisis in a statement from her revitalized Committee for the First Amendment, emphasizing that the group is ready to mobilize against the transaction.

Addressing regulators, Fonda stated, We know this deal or any of this scale triggers antitrust scrutiny, and we insist that this authority not be misused to secure political concessions that could restrict content or suppress free speech.

Under the agreement, Netflix will acquire Warner Bros. Discovery at $27.75 per share, gaining control of WBs film and television studios, HBO, and HBO Max, pending regulatory approval.

In October, following a controversy on Jimmy Kimmel Live with the FCC, Fonda revived her father Henry Fondas McCarthy-era committee, backed by 550 industry professionals.

The Committee for the First Amendment issued a statement emphasizing the risks: Warner Bros. Discoverys acceptance of this purchase bid represents a concerning escalation of industry consolidation, threatening the creative sector, the public it serves, and First Amendment principles. This is not merely a business deal with potential consequences for our industry; it is a constitutional crisis intensified by the governments disregard for legal obligations.

Fondas message to Netflix and other participants in the deal was clear: Industry leaders have too often yielded to political pressure at the cost of creative freedom and constitutional rights. As guardians of a sector rooted in free expression, it is your duty to protect these rights rather than compromise them for profit. The pressure to comply will be immense, but it is vital to remain steadfast. We are watching closely, organizing, and ready to act.

Author: Benjamin Carter