All articles tagged with #open letter
Author Andy Weir apologized publicly to Star Trek executive Alex Kurtzman after remarks on the Critical Drinker podcast criticizing Star Trek shows and stating his pitch to Paramount was rejected; he called the comments disrespectful, said they were taken out of context, and offered to discuss the matter in real time, stressing he respects Kurtzman.
More than 80 current and former Berlinale participants, including Tilda Swinton and Javier Bardem, signed an open letter urging the festival to condemn Israel’s actions in Gaza, accusing Berlinale of censoring artists and calling for support of Palestinian rights. The missive cites Wim Wenders’ comments on politics and notes a broader pattern of festival boycotts, with other signatories including prominent filmmakers and actors.
An open letter signed by 81 Berlinale alumni, including Tilda Swinton and Javier Bardem, accuses the Berlin Film Festival of censoring artists who oppose Israel’s actions in Gaza and urges Berlinale to condemn the violence and defend artistic free expression. The letter points to a broader industry trend toward cultural boycotts of Israel and thousands of film workers who have refused to work with Israeli institutions. Berlinale director Tricia Tuttle defended free speech, while jury president Wim Wenders’ remark that filmmaking is the “opposite of politics” sparked backlash, fueling ongoing debate about politics in the festival. The signatories urge Berlinale to publicly oppose Israel’s actions and uphold artists’ right to speak on Palestinian rights.
More than 80 current and former participants, including Javier Bardem, Tilda Swinton and Adam McKay, signed an open letter condemning Berlinale for its silence on Gaza and urging the festival to oppose Israel's actions, arguing that art and politics are inseparable; the move follows Wim Wenders' remark that filmmakers should stay out of politics and Berlinale's defense of artists' right to speak.
More than 80 current and former Berlinale participants sign an open letter condemning the festival for silence on Gaza and censoring artists who spoke out, urging Berlinale to oppose Israel’s actions and defend free speech. Signatories include Tilda Swinton, Javier Bardem, Adam McKay, Mike Leigh, Nan Goldin and others, arguing that filmmaking cannot be separated from politics. The letter situates Berlinale within a growing movement of festivals and industry workers supporting a cultural boycott of Israel and calls for the festival to publicly condemn what it calls genocide and crimes against Palestinians.
More than 100 artists and cultural figures signed an open letter in support of UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese, defending her Gaza remarks and urging that “force” not be the law, while criticizing censorship and calls for resignation.
Sharon Osbourne has been invited by Birmingham’s Conservative group to stand in the upcoming local elections after she hinted on social media that she might return to the city. Party leader Councillor Robert Alden published an open letter inviting her to stand to help “clean up Birmingham” and boost the council’s finances and services, with supporters touting her profile as a campaigning figure who could raise the city’s international profile.
More than 100 Latino creatives sign an open letter urging Hollywood to boost Latino voices in development and casting, push for non-stereotypical leads, hire Latino executives in greenlighting rooms, and involve Latino consultants, writers, and producers early in projects, in response to Odessa A’zion’s Deep Cuts controversy and broader representation concerns.
More than 60 Minnesota-based CEOs, including Target’s incoming CEO Michael Fiddelke and 3M’s William Brown, signed an open letter urging deescalation and cooperation among federal, state, and local officials amid immigration enforcement actions and fatal shootings. The leaders call for a durable solution to let families, businesses, and communities resume normal activity, even as employee backlash and broader corporate activism around ICE grows.
Hollywood is divided over the Israel film boycott, with over 1,200 industry figures signing an open letter condemning the boycott and urging support for Israeli voices and peace efforts, countering a previous pledge by over 5,000 actors and filmmakers to boycott Israeli film groups.
Over 1,200 entertainment industry figures, including Liev Schreiber and Mayim Bialik, signed an open letter condemning the call for a boycott of Israeli film institutions, arguing that such actions promote censorship, misinformation, and antisemitism, and emphasizing the importance of artistic freedom and dialogue.
FEMA employees have been placed on leave after publicly criticizing the Trump administration in an open letter, highlighting internal dissent within the agency.
Over 2,300 writers from the Writers Guild of America have signed an open letter condemning President Trump's recent actions perceived as threats to the free press and First Amendment, criticizing efforts to silence dissent and control media narratives.
Over 500 Broadway performers and theater professionals have signed an open letter urging the Tony Awards to disinvite Patti LuPone due to her controversial comments about fellow performers, which are criticized as degrading and misogynistic. The letter condemns her remarks about Kecia Lewis and Audra McDonald, emphasizing the need for accountability and higher industry standards. The Tony Awards are scheduled for June 8, with no official response yet from organizers or LuPone.
Over 500 theater industry members signed an open letter condemning Patti LuPone for making racially and misogynistically charged comments about fellow Broadway artists Kecia Lewis and Audra McDonald, calling for accountability and respect within the theater community.