Sony Pictures Entertainment has brought in crisis PR support from Smith & Co, the Washington, D.C., firm of Judy Smith, as the company navigates the ongoing hacking and leak scandal.
 Lynton |
Smith is advising the studio and embattled co-chair Amy Pascal on its message and next steps, according to The Hollywood Reporter. TMZ, which first reported the hire, said Smith is counseling Sony on the D.C. and Hollywood fronts while pushing the message that its controversial decision to pull "The Interview" film as in the best interest and safety of its employees.
Sony, which is also working with Rubenstein Communications, has come under withering criticism after President Barack Obama said the company made a mistake and it worked to shift blame for the cancellation of "The Interview" debut on to movie theaters. SPE CEO Michael Lynton did a series of press interviews to push back against the President's characterization. Variety reported Dec. 21 that theater owners are "incensed" at Sony's public statements.
Sony says it has no further release plans for the film, despite calls from Hollywood and Washington for the studio to release it.
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