In a bold move, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp recently signed the pro-life legislation known as the “fetal heartbeat” bill. This will protect the life of an unborn baby after a heartbeat is detected, approximately six weeks after conception.
As a result of this move, much of Hollywood has erupted in anger and is threatening a boycott of the state. The good people of Georgia should say “good riddance” to these lunatic liberals who want to impose their progressive ideology on the rest of America. In fact, Dallas Pastor Robert Jeffress said that Hollywood has become “blinded by evil” in their embrace of radical pro-abortion and progressive policies.
While Hollywood has been promoting a liberal message in their productions for decades, the industry is becoming more progressive every year. Sadly, it has become much worse in the era of Donald Trump. The problem for Hollywood is that many of the consumers of their products are conservatives who disdain their liberal propaganda.
Georgia is a “red state” that attracted Hollywood productions due a generous 30% tax credit. Now, Disney, AMC Networks, WarnerMedia, Netflix, Sony Pictures and NBC/Universal are threatening to leave the state if the “fetal heartbeat” bill “goes into effect.” Disney CEO Robert A. Iger claimed that it would be “very difficult” to continue working in the state of Georgia because too many employees would boycott productions.
Although Disney is worried about the “fetal heartbeat” law, it is seemingly not concerned about doing business in China, which is engaged in regular censorship and repression of human rights. Disney opened Shanghai Disney in 2016 and Iger gushed about possibility of opening another one in China soon, promising that “we’re going to look.”
While Disney is troubled that Georgia has a new law protecting human life, it is not upset at China’s polices which include the denial of basic freedoms of speech, assembly, or the right to practice religion. China also does not allow free elections and regularly detains and harasses minority groups such as Tibetans.
Of course, as Roe v. Wade has not been overturned and abortion is still legal in all 50 states. In the meantime, Georgia’s new law will not take effect until next year, and it will certainly face legal challenges which will delay the implementation. Thus, this debate is mostly an academic exercise; however, it is worthwhile to understand the massive gulf between Hollywood values and the values of the people of Georgia.
Hollywood is aggressively pro-choice, while most Georgia residents are pro-life. In Georgia, President Trump has millions of supporters. In the 2016 election, he handily defeated Hillary Clinton by a margin of over 200,000 votes.
Of course, the vast majority of Hollywood hates Donald Trump. Almost every day, a Hollywood star such as Robert DeNiro, Alyssa Milano, Cher or George Clooney makes a threatening or insulting comment about the President. Democratic presidential candidates love Hollywood for the industry provides plenty of financial support. The top stars regularly host lavish fundraisers for White House contenders such as former Vice President Joe Biden, who recently raised over $700,000 at a Hollywood gala attended by an array of top producers and industry titans.
Far from the Beverly Hills Democratic Party fundraisers, 92,000 Georgia residents are earning paychecks working on movies, TV shows and other entertainment industry projects. According to recent estimates, Hollywood provides an economic investment of over $9 billion for the state of Georgia. Nevertheless, it is a business that promotes liberal values in countless films and TV programs. Hopefully, this will lead to a reexamination of the welcome mat that Georgia has rolled out for the industry.
For Pastor Jeffress, the decision is clear, the people of Georgia “should let them go and don’t let the door hit them on the backside if you know what I mean.” He considers the mentality of industry leaders, such as Disney, to be especially evil. Jeffress believes that Disney supports “the murder of their future audience. That is not only not good morals, it’s not good business either. They are absolutely insane. They are blinded by evil in their support of abortion.”
As religious leaders and conservatives encourage Georgia to take a stand against Hollywood values, supporters of the film industry are encouraging the boycott. In the view of Michael Taylor of the University of Southern California's Media Institute for Social Change, the proposed Georgia boycott is “the right thing” for Hollywood, even though it might not be “a good financial decision” for the industry.
He claimed that if a state like Georgia tries to “undo” Roe v. Wade, the film industry should do the “right thing,” which means to “take a position and take your money elsewhere.”
As Hollywood threatens a boycott, pro-life moviegoers and TV viewers should also “take a position” and spend their “money elsewhere.” This is the best way to send a message to an industry that is so committed to abortion rights and the entire progressive agenda.
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