President Obama’s Comments on Sony’s ‘Mistake’ Draws Mixed Social Media Reaction

Rob Lowe, Judd Apatow and QB Joe Flacco weigh-in on the president’s press conference, as a new hashtag is spawned

The Interview movie poster, Sony logo, President Obama
Sony Pictures Entertainment/Getty Images

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.

“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.”

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:

 

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