Tina Fey Speaks Out About ‘Charlie Hebdo’ Shooting and Sony Hacking Scandal

Tina Fey has urged fellow comedians not to be deterred from making controversial jokes following the gun massacre at the headquarters of a French satirical magazine and threats to cinemas over The Interview movie.

Gunmen stormed the offices of the Charlie Hebdo magazine in Paris on Wednesday, killing 12 people, including journalists, cartoonists and the publication’s editor-in-chief.

The attack is believed to have been carried out by extremists in revenge for the publication of cartoons featuring Muslim Prophet Mohammed, and police have launched a full-scale manhunt in a bid to catch the perpetrators.

Fey, who is famed for satirizing politicians on Saturday Night Live, has become the latest celebrity to speak out about the attack, and she has urged fellow comedians not to be deterred from making controversial jokes.

When asked about the Paris atrocity during an appearance at the Television Critics Association press tour in Pasadena, California, Fey told reporters, “Obviously, that news is terrible and tragic and upsetting.”

She went on to draw comparisons with a terror threat issued against U.S. cinemas over Seth Rogen’s controversial comedy film The Interview, which depicts the assassination of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

Fey added, “You look at that (the Paris attack) and you look at the controversy surrounding The Interview, it makes you think about how important free speech is and how it absolutely must be defended. (We) cannot back down on free speech in any way. We all have to stand firm on the issue of free speech. But we’re Americans, and even if it’s dumb jokes in The Interview, we have the right to make them.”

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