Fox CEO rebukes Trump’s reaction to Charlottesville
LOS ANGELES: James Murdoch, the CEO of 21st Century Fox, has spoken out against US President Donald Trump’s controversial reaction to the violence inCharlottesville, Virginia, over the weekend.
In a personal letter sent to friends and associates urging them to support the Anti-Defamation League, Murdoch called the violence, in which one woman was killed and 19 others were injured after a car plowed into counter-protesters at a white nationalist rally, and Trump’s response to it a concern to “all of us as Americans and free people”.
“The presence of hate in our society was appallingly laid bare as we watched swastikas brandished on the streets of Charlottesville and acts of brutal terrorism and violence perpetrated by a racist mob,” Murdoch wrote in the strongly worded message.
“I can’t even believe I have to write this: standing up to Nazis is essential; there are no good Nazis. Or Klansmen, or terrorists. Democrats, Republicans, and others must all agree on this, and it compromises nothing for them to do so.”
Murdoch also revealed that he and his wife, Kathryn, are donating US$1mil (RM4.3mil) to the AntiDefamation League in the wake of the events.
With his first statement about Charlottesville last Saturday, Trump drew ire for saying there was violence on “many sides” and failing to call out white supremacists, neo-Nazis, and other hate groups by name.
It took him two days to do so, issuing a statement condemning the groups on Monday.
He seemed to backtrack, however, with a combative press conference on Tuesday. Trump blamed “both sides” for the violence – and later saw several CEOs leave his Manufacturing Council, before both that group and his Strategy and Policy Forum dissolved altogether.
An excerpt of Murdoch’s letter highlights how film plays a role in shining a light on diversity and presentation of diverse ideas. It reads as follows.
“Diverse storytellers and stories can make a difference, and that diversity around the world is a crucial strength and an animating force in my business.
“Often times not everyone agrees with the stories and positions that emerge from this, and that can be difficult.
“Certainly no company can be perfect. But I’m proud of the powerful art that can emerge, and I’m grateful to all of my colleagues who make this happen.
“From the potent and compelling narrative of 12 Years a Slave, to the streets of Pakistan and the bravery of an extraordinary young woman that we saw in He Named Me Malala, to name just a few, we’ve never been afraid to help storytellers and artists say important things – hard things, too.”