Jane Fonda condemns Netflix-Warner Bros. acquisition: ‘Catastrophic’
Jane Fonda believes Netflix-WB merger ‘threatens entire entertainment Industry’
Jane Fonda condemns Netflix-Warner Bros. acquisition: ‘Catastrophic’
Jane Fonda is calling Netflix’s monopolistic move to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery a “catastrophic” event poised to undermine our creative industry
Taking to Instagram on Friday, December 5, through her Committee for the 1st Amendment organization, Fonda wrote against the merger.
The Hollywood icon described the purchase as “an alarming escalation of the consolidation that threatens the entire entertainment industry, the democratic public it serves and the First Amendment.”
In her statement, Fonda did not mince words. She warned that the deal is “not just a catastrophic business deal that could destroy our creative industry. It is a constitutional crisis exacerbated by the administration’s demonstrated disregard for the law.”
Fonda also called on regulators to stay in check, urging the Justice Department and state authorities to avoid leveraging their legal powers to “extract political concessions that influence content decisions or chill free speech.”
She further addressed Netflix and any companies involved in the deal, emphasizing that it is their “responsibility to defend our rights, not trade them away to pad your pockets,” and warned of the pressure to comply: “It is critical you stay strong.”
The deal has stirred concern across Hollywood. Lawmakers, producers, and industry guilds have all expressed unease over the Netflix-Warner Bros. acquisition, which many predict could reshape the entertainment landscape, particularly the theatrical sector.
After months of deliberation, Netflix officially outbid David Ellison’s Paramount Skydance and Comcast to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery. The transaction, a combination of cash and stock, values the deal at $27.75 per share, with closure expected within 12–18 months, according to statements from both Netflix and WBD.
