2 hours ago
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is expressing solidarity pinch New York Attorney General Letitia James and 11 different authorities attorneys wide suing to extremity nan Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery merger.
In a connection posted to societal media aft 12 authorities AGs filed an antitrust lawsuit Monday seeking to artifact nan $110 cardinal deal, Mamdani said he was “proud” that his authorities was among those taking a stand.
“This is not a merger that serves nan public,” he said. “It would manus 1 institution astir a 3rd of nan movies and cablegram channels Americans watch, raise prices for streaming and cable, endanger nan livelihoods of thousands of New York artists and intermezo workers, and frighten to shutter theaters crossed our city. New York’s workers helped build this industry. They should not beryllium sacrificed for nan liking of further firm consolidation.”
Mamdani, who became politician connected January 1, has a notable Hollywood connection. His mother, Mira Nair, is an Oscar-nominated director. Before focusing connected politics, Mamdani pursued a rap profession and had 1 of his songs featured in Queen of Katwe, a movie Nair directed for Disney successful which nan early politician besides made a cameo.
Paramount, meanwhile, has pushed backmost against nan lawsuit. The institution says it will consequence successful delays that will harm intermezo workers and thief tech companies that person “come to dominate” nan intermezo sector.
New York and nan different plaintiffs position it differently, arsenic James explained successful a statement.
“For complete a century, Paramount and Warner Bros. person competed to create movies and tv that bring group together, animate and prolong generations of artists, and thief america understand nan world,” she said. “This merger would destruct that competition, creating a monolithic institution pinch unprecedented powerfulness and power complete news and intermezo crossed nan globe. Paramount’s acquisition of Warner Bros. threatens to raise costs for consumers and put jobs and businesses nationwide astatine risk. I convey my chap attorneys wide for joining this effort to uphold nan rule and artifact this merger.”
