Jane Fonda's Blunt Warning About Netflix's Merger: 'We Should Be Terrified'

Jane Fonda has once again voiced a blunt warning, this time regarding Netflixs recent acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery. The actress and activist expressed serious concern about the merger, emphasizing the potential repercussions for the media landscape.

Fonda shared her thoughts just before Netflix secured the $82.7 billion deal earlier this week, but she stressed that her concerns extend beyond the identity of the buyer. Writing for The Ankler, she stated, No matter which company takes control of Warner Bros. Discovery or its divisions, the consequences are unmistakable: consolidation on this level could be disastrous.

She explained that the effects of such mergers are tangible, predicting reduced employment, fewer chances for creators to sell their work, diminished creative experimentation, fewer news outlets, and significantly less diversity in the stories available to the public.

Her greatest worry centers on political influence. Fonda warned, What terrifies me and should alarm anyone concerned about freedom is the way anticipated mergers have been leveraged as tools for political pressure and censorship. She backed this up with examples, including the SkydanceParamount merger, the FCCs investigation into 60 Minutes, and the removal of Stephen Colbert, noting that while these were framed as business decisions, they often coincided with political signals.

Fonda also highlighted the case of Jimmy Kimmel. After the FCC Chair publicly criticized him, Nexstar a broadcaster awaiting FCC approval for its own acquisition quickly removed his show. Fonda views these events as a warning, echoed by political figures such as Senator Ted Cruz, who cautioned that pressuring media companies during merger reviews sets a dangerous precedent and could lead to silencing dissenting voices.

She noted that celebrities have been subtly acknowledging these trends, citing Jamie Lee Curtis understated social media post about Kimmels suspension as an example. Fonda interprets these silent reactions as signals that the media landscape is shifting.

Reflecting on her own experiences, Fonda recalled being surveilled and blacklisted during the Nixon era, emphasizing that she recognizes the early signs of similar pressures today. Yet, her message extends beyond caution: We may lose both our industry and democracy if we fail to act now, she wrote. Fonda calls for collective awareness and solidarity before opportunities to defend media freedom diminish.

Author: Chloe Ramirez