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 Michael Lynton, CEO and Chairman of Sony Pictures
Entertainment, and Co-Chairman Amy Pascal addressed staff at two
separate meetings in a packed sound stage on the company's lot
in Culver City, California, according to an employee who
attended one of the sessions.
Lynton told employees they should not worry about the studio's
future, a Sony spokeswoman said. He also praised staff for their
work to keep productions running after the attack, the
spokeswoman said. Both Lynton and Pascal received applause, said
the employee at one of the meetings.
Unidentified hackers attacked Sony's computer network last month
and have released internal documents they claim were stolen from
the company.
Disclosures from the documents have caused turmoil at the
studio, a unit of Japan's Sony Corp, and shed light on internal
discussions key to the company's future. For instance, the
documents include employee salaries and financial information,
marketing plans and contracts with business partners.
In addition, the documents included an exchange in which Pascal
joked about President Obama's race. After media outlets reported
that information, Pascal issued a public apology for
"insensitive and inappropriate" emails.
Reuters has not been able to verify the authenticity of the
documents.
At one of Monday's meetings with staff, Pascal was "near tears"
and apologized again for her comments, according to the employee
in attendance. Staff members applauded and offered her support,
and a few hugged her, the employee said.
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Pascal is scheduled to meet this week with civil rights leader
Reverend Al Sharpton, whose spokeswoman says he is weighing whether
to call for her resignation. Pascal did not respond to a request for
comment on Monday. A Sony spokeswoman had no comment.
Oprah Winfrey and Tyler Perry, two prominent African-American
figures in the entertainment industry, defended Pascal on Sunday at
the premiere for the civil rights film "Selma."
"I would hope that we would not stand in such harsh judgment in a
moment of time when someone is hacked in their private
conversations," Winfrey told CNN.
"We all make stupid mistakes ... I don't believe she's a racist,"
Perry also told the network.
(Additional reporting by Lisa Richwine and Eric Kelsey; Editing by
Bernard Orr)
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