Hollywood threatens to withdraw funding for Barack Obama over SOPA

A statement released by the White House this week expressed sympathy for
critics of the legislation, known popularly as “SOPA”
(Stop Online Piracy Act)
. Hollywood executives had assumed they
would get the backing, or at least neutrality, of the president and are said
to feel “betrayed.”

Several have reportedly pulled out of forthcoming fund-raisers and one
anonymous studio chief told the influential Hollywood website Deadline that
they would “not give a dime anymore.”

Mr Dodd said the issue went “right to the heart of this industry”
and accused the White House of being “terribly negative to people in
this community.” He said Democrats should not make the “false
assumption” that Hollywood would be financially supportive this year.

Both Hollywood and Silicon Valley donated around $9 million (£5.8 million) to
Mr Obama’s 2008 campaign and have so far donated around $4 million this
time. He is expecting much more to come in over the next several months.

This week, after visiting Disney World in Florida to promote tourism, he
attended a $35,800-per-ticket fund-raiser at the home of director Spike Lee
in New York. First Lady Michelle Obama is expected in Hollywood on Jan 31
for two lucrative private fund-raisers at the homes of supporters. The
president himself will visit next month and will have to placate his
critics.

Barry Meyer, chief executive and chairman for Warner Bros Entertainment, told
the Los Angeles Times he and others were “very disappointed” with
the White House’s response to the bills. He declined to say whether he would
not support Mr Obama.

“It’s important that we register both to the administration and to
Congress that this is important to the industry and to the jobs it supports,”
he said.

Mr Obama has faced increasing criticism from supporters in Hollywood, most
notably from the actor Matt Damon who has accused him of “misinterpreting
his mandate.”

Amid the debate over online piracy one of the world’s most popular filesharing
sites, Megaupload.com, was shut down on Thursday and its founder and several
company officials were accused of facilitating millions of illegal downloads
of films and music.

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