A reporter at the San Sebastián Film Festival in Spain asked Hollywood star Angelina Jolie about challenges to free expression, an unspoken nod to President Donald Trump’s crackdown on the media.
The media world was shaken last Wednesday night by the news that ABC had suspended Kimmel’s show “indefinitely” (he has since been reinstated) just hours after he was targeted by Brendan Carr, President Trump’s hand-picked FCC commissioner.
But that action was the culmination of what is widely seen as a crackdown on speech and the media that includes threats of punishment for so-called “hate speech” and excessive criticism.
Concerns over the issue reached across the ocean as Jolie held a joint press conference in support of her film Couture, and was asked a pointed question by film critic María Guerra.
Jolie took some very long pauses and acknowledged she was being “careful” in her response, but said she doesn’t “recognize my country”:
TRANSLATOR: Hi, good afternoon. Maria Guerra from Kinotico, a question for Angelina Jolie. The US is going through a… The US is going through a concerning period of time due to the freedom of expression.
In the US, you’re a free woman who has raised your voice in favor of many causes. What are you afraid of at this present moment as an artist and as an American in regards to the US?
ANGELINA JOLIE: Oh. (LONG PAUSE) I don’t–. (LONG PAUSE) It’s obviously a very difficult question, only to say that I love my country, and–.
But I don’t at this time recognize my country. And I think that’s, but I am. I’ve always lived internationally, I’ve always– my family’s international, my friends, my life, my world view is equal, united, international.
So anything, anywhere that divides or of course limits personal expressions, and freedoms and– from anyone, I think is very dangerous.
And I think these are such serious times that we have to be careful not to say things casually. So I’ll be careful during a press conference, but to say that of course like all of you and everyone watching them, you know.
These are very very heavy times we’re all living in together .
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