After the L.A. Times published three articles investigating the financial relationship between the Walt Disney Company and the city of Anaheim, Walt Disney retaliated by refusing admittance to the L.A. Times film critics from attending press screenings of Thor: Ragnarok.
A STATEMENT FROM THE LOS ANGELES FILM CRITICS ASSOCIATION,
THE NEW YORK FILM CRITICS CIRCLE, THE BOSTON SOCIETY OF FILM CRITICS AND THE NATIONAL SOCIETY OF FILM CRITICS
Nov. 7, 2017 — The members of the Los Angeles Film Critics Association, the New York Film Critics Circle, the Boston Society of Film Critics and the National Society of Film Critics jointly denounce the Walt Disney Company’s media blackout of the Los Angeles Times. Furthermore, all four critics’ organizations have voted to disqualify Disney’s films from year-end awards consideration until said blackout is publicly rescinded.
On Nov. 3, The Times published a statement that its writers and editors had been blocked from attending advance screenings of Disney films, in response to The Times’ news coverage of Disney’s business arrangements with the City of Anaheim. Disney’s actions, which include an indefinite ban on any interaction with The Times, are antithetical to the principles of a free press and set a dangerous precedent in a time of already heightened hostility toward journalists.
It is admittedly extraordinary for a critics’ group, let alone four critics’ groups, to take any action that might penalize film artists for decisions beyond their control. But Disney brought forth this action when it chose to punish The Times’ journalists rather than express its disagreement with a business story via ongoing public discussion. Disney’s response should gravely concern all who believe in the importance of a free press, artists included.
The New York Film Critics Circle will vote on its annual awards Thursday, Nov. 30; the Los Angeles Film Critics Association will vote Sunday, Dec. 3; the Boston Society of Film Critics will vote Sunday, Dec. 10; and the National Society of Film Critics will vote Saturday, Jan. 6.
Claudia Puig
President, Los Angeles Film Critics Association
claudiapuig2@gmail.com
Eric Kohn
Chair, New York Film Critics Circle
eric@indiewire.com
Tom Meek
President, Boston Society of Film Critics
thom3@aol.com
Liz Weis
Executive Director, National Society of Film Critics
NSFCmail@gmail.com
