Stars, politicians and pundits are weighing in on Sony Pictures Entertainment's decision Wednesday to cancel the Dec. 25 release of "The Interview," the Seth Rogen-James Franco comedy at the center of the North Korean cyberattack that has seen thousands of Sony's private documents and other proprietary materials released online:
— "Dear Sony Hackers: now that u run Hollywood, I'd also like less romantic comedies, fewer Michael Bay movies and no more Transformers. Also, Sony Hackers - I really liked Tyler Perry in 'Gone Girl' so hold off on doing anything yet with Madea." — Michael Moore on Twitter.
— "Sony has absolutely no courage or guts. They should have never pulled it." — Donald Trump via video on Facebook.
— "No one should kid themselves. With the Sony collapse America has lost its first cyberwar. This is a very very dangerous precedent." — Newt Gingrich on Twitter.
— "Sad day for creative expression. #feareatsthesoul" — Steve Carell on Twitter.
— "We should not let a pathological regime in N. Korea intimidate us. I'd be 1st on line to see #TheInterviewMovie. Dear @SonyPictures - please make #TheInterviewMovie available in DVD so I can decide whether to see it, not N. Korea." — Rep. Steve Israel, D-New York, on Twitter.
— "Today the U.S. succumbed to an unprecedented attack on our most cherished, bedrock principle of free speech by a group of North Korean terrorists who threatened to kill moviegoers in order to stop the release of a movie. The wishes of the terrorists were fulfilled in part by easily distracted members of the American press who chose gossip and schadenfreude-fueled reporting over a story with immeasurable consequences for the public--a story that was developing right in front of their eyes. My deepest sympathies go out to Sony Pictures, Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg and everyone who worked on 'The Interview.'" — Screenwriter Aaron Sorkin in a statement.
U.S. & World
— "An un-American act of cowardice that validates terrorist actions and sets a terrifying precedent." — Jimmy Kimmel to Judd Apatow on Twitter.
— "This only guarantees that this movie will be seen by more people on Earth than it would have before. Legally or illegally all will see it." — Judd Apatow on Twitter.
— "Wow. Everyone caved. The hackers won. An utter and complete victory for them. Wow. Saw @Sethrogen at JFK. Both of us have never seen or heard of anything like this. Hollywood has done Neville Chamberlain proud today." — Rob Lowe on Twitter.
— "Is that all it takes - an anonymous threat and the numbers 911 - to throw free expression under the bus?" — Bill Maher on Twitter.
— "THE INTERVIEW is now poised to shatter the world record for "spite viewings."" — Comedian Patton Oswalt on Twitter.
— "My recommendation would be that people go to the movies." — President Obama to ABC News.
