Amy Adams says she’s ‘frustrated, confused’ over nixed ‘Today’ spot
Amy Adams is “frustrated” over the cancellation of her “Today” show interview earlier this week in the wake of the Sony hacking saga.
The actress was slated to appear on the NBC morning show on Monday to promote Tim Burton’s “Big Eyes,” in which she stars as painter Margaret Keane. However, Adams’ reluctance to discuss the massive cyber attack on Sony Pictures and terms for the appearance didn’t sit well with “Today” producers, prompting them to pull the interview altogether just minutes before it was set to air.
“As a news program, the ‘Today’ show doesn’t allow guests to put restrictions on interviews,” the show said in a statement at the time. “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.”
The five-time Oscar nominee, who was revealed in leaked emails to have been compensated less than her male costars in last year’s “American Hustle,” told USA Today that she expressed that she was “uncomfortable” adding her voice to the conversation about the hack, Sony’s subsequent decision to pull “The Interview” from theaters and the move’s aftermath.
“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.”
However, she “was informed that they had decided to pull the interview. I was confused and definitely frustrated. I still don’t understand.”
The New York Daily News initially reported that Adams “freaked out” and “got aggressive” in the green room before the appearance. Gossip Cop determined that those allegations were largely exaggerated.
Reps for the Weinstein Co., the studio that is distributing “Big Eyes,” told Us Weekly in a statement they “firmly stand” behind the actress and insisted that “she is nothing but the consummate professional both on and off set.”
“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 [answering], and rather than respect her opinion or continue the discussion, the reaction was to pull her appearance from the show,” the studio said.
“Today” reps declined to elaborate Wednesday on the show’s earlier statement.
Follow me on Twitter @NardineSaad.
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