Newsom Urges Hollywood Pals To Punish Conservative States

Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom said Wednesday in an ad that Hollywood needs to “walk the walk” by pulling production out of Republican states.

Newsom released the ad Wednesday while also endorsing a proposal to provide $1.65 billion and a five-year extension of the state’s film and television production tax credit program, The New York Times reported.

“For 100 years, we’ve been the home for storytelling and storytellers,” the ad reads. “Together, we built a creative community that includes unrivaled casts, crews, craftspeople, infrastructure and technology. Robust tax credits and other incentives. The best culture. Most importantly, we share your values. So now, it’s time to choose.”

The ad then attacks Republican-led states like Georgia and Oklahoma, which Newsom alleges have “waged a cruel assault on essential rights.” Newsom claims the states have attacked “reproductive freedom.”

“Today more than ever, you have a responsibility to take stock of your values – and those of your employees – when doing business in those states,” the ad continues. “California is a freedom state: Freedom to tell your stories. Freedom to access the health services you need, including abortion care. Freedom to love who you love and to ensure that your LGBTQ friends, family and colleagues can proudly be who they are. Freedom from repressive state governments that want to tell you what to believe and threaten you with felonies if you don’t toe their line.”

California Governor Gavin Newsom speaks during the groundbreaking ceremony for the “Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing” over a major freeway in Agoura Hills, near Los Angeles, California, U.S., April 22, 2022. REUTERS/Aude Guerrucci

“So to those in power to make decisions about where to film, where to open new offices, we in California say: Walk the walk.” (RELATED: ‘Kills The American Dream’: Truckers Disrupt Port Of Oakland To Protest Newsom’s Labor Law)

Newsom has had a friendly relationship with Hollywood, exempting entertainment industry workers from a November 2020 stay-at-home order after COVID-19 cases spiked. The workers were considered essential. Newsom also saw widespread financial support from some of Hollywood’s top executives amid his recall challenge. Netflix CEO Reed Hastings donated $3 million to the political action committee defending Newsom while the Entertainment Software Association donated $50,000, Fox Business reported. Paramount Pictures reportedly gave $40,000 and Motion Picture Association threw in $10,000.

Other donors included director Steven Spielberg and Barbra Streisand, according to Fox Business.

Hollywood doesn’t just cozy up to Newsom, however. CNN’s Jake Tapper criticized Hollywood’s relationship with China back in February, calling out studios’ willingness to accept Chinese censorship of their movies. Some American companies will edit their movies to appease China’s communist government out of fear they will lose access to China’s film market.