Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass spoke out for the first time on the antitrust lawsuit between Paramount Skydance and a coalition of states led by California Attorney General Rob Bonta. Paramount CEO David Ellison recently threatened to leave California for a republican state if Bonta did not settle the lawsuit.
Bass must balance party affiliation with supporting one of LA’s biggest and most influential industries. She now urges mediation after previously opposing the merger, “While there are varying perspectives on the proposed transaction, today we are united around one clear message: It is time for all parties to come to the table. The continued uncertainty is not good for workers, not good for productions and not good for the future of this industry,” she said per The Hollywood Reporter.
“Too many productions are at a standstill, which means Angelenos are out of a job and they’re not getting paid. As mayor, I cannot stand by as the job security of thousands of hardworking union members is being put at risk. That is why we are calling on Paramount, Attorney General Rob Bonta and all relevant parties to come together, engage directly and in good faith, and work urgently to find common ground and keep our vital industry in Los Angeles,” she continued via The Hollywood Reporter.
The WGA, the co-plaintiff, with Bonta and the AGs, responded to the mayor switching her support in favor of the merger. “We are disappointed that Mayor Bass has chosen to join Paramount’s pressure campaign on public enforcers to push through a merger that is being rightfully challenged as illegal and will lead to job losses in the entertainment industry. Her statement comes on the heels of a county report estimating thousands of jobs will be lost if the merger proceeds,” the statement said, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Her statements also came before reports indicating that Monday’s mediation would mostly be a PR stunt. Gavin Newsom, Governor of California, has also recently come out in support of a settlement, stating, ”There’s some universal settlement there, if that’s possible.”
Several major entertainment organizations, including Cinema United, IATSE, and the DGA, have also urged both sides to reach an agreement. Bass ran with the support of IATSE, one of the largest unions of entertainment workers, championing production workers. Newsom has also supported tax credits for film production, intending to keep production in California.
