Heartbreak doesn’t quite belong in a space like this.
Recently, Jane Fonda shared her thoughts on Netflix’s surprise plan to buy Warner Bros. Discovery. She used humor to express her worries about what this means for the movie industry. Mimicking Nicole Kidman’s popular AMC ad, Fonda hinted at dangers posed by big corporations.
“We come to this place for mergers,” she started, playfully echoing Kidman. “We stream to silence our thoughts, to consume what’s offered by the wealthiest among us.”
Fonda made fun of how today’s media is often packaged for convenience. Instead of enjoying “amazing images on a giant screen,” she imagined being dazzled by “focus-grouped content that doesn’t engage the brain much.”
“Somehow, corporate greed feels comfortable here,” she remarked, as she pretended to watch movies on her phone rather than a big screen. “Somehow, mergers feel right in this place.”
In the parody, produced with The Groundlings, someone interrupts her: “Ma’am, we’ve got to clear out. We’re about to demolish this place to build a data center.”
Fonda shared her serious concerns in the caption. She stressed that whether Netflix or another company buys Warner Bros. Discovery, it could mean fewer job opportunities, less diversity in storytelling, and a risk to creativity. In her view, mergers like this are dangerous, especially in today’s political climate. She noted that the current administration might misuse its power over merger reviews to impose political demands.
Last week, she revived her Committee for the First Amendment, originally founded by her father to combat censorship during the McCarthy era. The group is prepared to act against this merger.
On December 5, Netflix announced plans to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery for $82.7 billion, valuing shares at about $28. Shortly after, Paramount presented a counter-offer of $30 per share. Politicians and industry leaders are reacting strongly, with Elizabeth Warren calling the merger “a five-alarm antitrust fire.” She’s highlighting what these moves could mean for competition laws.
In a world where the entertainment landscape is rapidly shifting, these developments raise important questions. Are we entering an age where big corporations control more of our media? It’s a conversation that’s already gaining momentum, both on social media and in public discourse. As we navigate these changes, it’s crucial to consider what we value in our stories and who gets to tell them.
For more on corporate mergers and their implications, check this report from the Federal Trade Commission.
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