December 20, 2014 - WASHINGTON – Republican National Committee Chairman (RNC) Reince Priebus sent this open letter to the following Cinema executives regarding the cancellation of The Interview:
Geraldo I. Lopez
CEO, AMC Theatres
Amy E. Miles
CEO, Regal Entertainment Group
Timothy Warner
CEO, Cinemark
S. David Passman
President & CEO, Carmike Cinemas
Ellis Jacob
President & CEO, Cineplex
Rolando B. Rodriguez
President and CEO, Marcus Theatres Corporation
Dan Harkins
Owner & CEO, Harkins Theatres
Sumner Redstone
Chairman and CEO, National Amusements
Elmer Bills, Jr
CEO, B&B Theatres
Ben Moss
CEO, Bow Tie Cinemas
Dear Cinema Executives:
I’m writing regarding the recent cancellation of the release of The Interview. Like many Americans, I’m deeply concerned that we would allow a foreign regime to dictate the movies we can and cannot watch.
As you know, the Republican Party and Hollywood have at times been at odds. But we can all agree that the current situation regarding the release of The Interview goes far beyond politics. It is about freedom and free enterprise.
Giving in to threats from the North Korean dictatorship is ceding our freedom to the whims of a totalitarian regime. We are setting a troubling example and a terrible precedent. Today, we’re talking about the movie industry. Tomorrow, we could be talking about energy, manufacturing, publishing, or even small businesses.
While the president has sent mixed messages on this issue, I want to speak clearly on behalf of the Republican Party: I urge you to show the movie.
As a sign of my commitment, if you agree to show this movie, I will send a note to the Republican Party’s millions of donors and supporters urging them to buy a ticket—not to support one movie or Hollywood, but to show North Korea we cannot be bullied into giving up our freedom.
Because this is now bigger than one movie, I would suggest to you and to Sony Pictures that a share of the profits be donated to the USO or the Yellow Ribbon Fund.
Entertainment is one of America’s great exports and a major part of our domestic economy. Like you, I want to continue to see the industry thrive for the sake of economic growth, job creation, and freedom of expression.
Sincerely,
Reince Priebus
Chairman, Republican National Committee
