Amy Adams is “frustrated” after an appearance scheduled on the Today show was cancelled after she refused to discuss issues pertaining to the Sony hacking scandal.
The actress was slated to appear on Monday to promote Tim Burton’s Big Eyes, but producers pulled the plug on the segment after the actress said she wasn’t willing to answer questions that were likely related to the revelation that surfaced through hacked emails that she and her American Hustle co-star Jennifer Lawrence were paid less than their male counterparts in the Academy-Award nominated film.
“As a news program, the ‘Today’ show doesn’t allow guests to put restrictions on interviews,” the show said in a statement on Monday. “In this case, after hours of discussion we felt uncomfortable with the demands being made and we determined the best course of action for all parties involved was to cancel the interview.”
Amy Adams Says She's 'Frustrated' by @Todayshow's Last-Minute Interview Cancellation http://t.co/DKfWgB5q4J pic.twitter.com/8PwmaHIYKS
— TheWrap (@TheWrap) December 25, 2014
The actress told USA Today that she told the NBC morning news program that she was “uncomfortable” adding her voice to the conversation about the hack and Sony’s subsequent decision to pull The Interview from theaters.
“But it was clear they were drawing a hard line. That this would be part of the conversation,” she said. “I walked away from the conversation and went up to the room to do the interview. I assumed they were going to ask me about [the Sony hacking]. And I was prepared for that, to whatever degree I was prepared.”
Adams said when she “was informed that they had decided to pull the interview. I was confused and definitely frustrated. I still don’t understand.”
Amy Adams on Canceled #Today Interview: I Was "Confused" and "Frustrated" http://t.co/8NGKamLw20 pic.twitter.com/QVfxNAL80O
— Hollywood Reporter (@THR) December 25, 2014
The studio that produced the film, the Weinstein Company, supported the actress’ decision to remain quiet about the Sony hack and said her opinion should be respected.
“We firmly stand behind Amy Adams. We’ve been lucky enough to have had her talents grace several of our films. We are certain her fellow actors and directors would all agree, she is nothing but the consummate professional both on and off set,” they told Just Jared. “Amy decided to speak up for herself and express her disappointment that Today would feel the need to ask her a question she did not feel comfortable , and rather than respect her opinion or continue the discussion, the reaction was to pull her appearance from the show.”
Today reps declined to elaborate any further on the incident.