Fox Creators Revolt as Fox News Condones Trumps Immigration Policy
Fox News might have finally gone too far. As Fox employees anxiously wait to see how Disney and Comc..
Fox News might have finally gone too far. As Fox employees anxiously wait to see how Disney and Comcasts battle over their company shakes out, the news divisions coverage of the Trump administrations new policy of separating children from their parents at the southern border has appalled some creators enough to condemn their parent company—and, in some cases, to vow to leave it altogether. Most recently, Modern Family co-creator Steve Levitan has announced his intention to leave Fox Studios.
“Fox Studio has been a wonderful home for most of my career – so many amazing people there who share the concerns about @FoxNews but arent in the position to speak out,” Levitan wrote on Twitter Tuesday afternoon. “I have no problem with fact-based conservatism (such as WSJ), but @FoxNews 23-hour-a-day support of the NRA, conspiracy theories and Trumps lies gets harder to swallow every day as I drive onto that lot to make a show about inclusion.”
“I look forward to seeing #ModernFamily through to the end and then, sale or no sale, setting up shop elsewhere,” Levitan concluded.
Seth MacFarlane was the first major Fox creative to disavow the company over the weekend, by tweeting incredulously about Fox Newss Tucker Carlson, who told his viewers to disregard information they hear from sources other than Fox News. “In other words, dont think critically, dont consult multiple news sources, and in general, dont use your brain. Just blindly obey Fox News,” the Family Guy and Orville creator wrote. “This is fringe shit, and its business like this that makes me embarrassed to work for this company.”
Levitan first tweeted his agreement with MacFarlane on Monday, before making his decision to leave Fox Studios once Modern Family ends. Paul Feig and Judd Apatow, who have both worked with Twentieth Century Fox, also tweeted their disapproval.
“We need as many people as possible to speak out against destroying families and how Fox News supports these policies,” Apatow tweeted Monday night. “They are a propaganda arm of this evil administration and since they are a business we should let them know how we feel about that.” On Tuesday morning, he added, “People dont want to deal with the fact that when you work for any part of Fox you are supporting a family which has made billions lying and manipulating our citizens for their personal financial gain. Now that includes supporting the kidnapping of children. Thats your boss.”
Soon after, Feig wrote, “I have made two films for 20th Century Fox and love the people in the movie and TV divisions. But I too cannot condone the support their news division promotes toward the immoral and abusive policies and actions taken by this current administration toward immigrant children.”
Get Vanity Fairs HWD NewsletterSign up for essential industry and award news from Hollywood.Laura BradleyLaura Bradley is a Hollywood writer for VanityFair.com.
