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 Talent agency WME-IMG, which represents actors, musicians,
writers and sports figures, said it was forming a national
political action committee (PAC).
In a memo to employees on Tuesday, WME-IMG, one of the biggest
talent agencies in Hollywood, said it also planned to develop
"actionable public policy solutions," connect clients with
politicians from both political parties, and support donations
of time and money by employees.
The memo, seen by Reuters, does not mention Trump and avoids
taking a direct political stance.
But it adds "this company’s greatest asset is the diversity of
our backgrounds and beliefs. Please know that we will do
everything in our power to support and protect this diversity
now and in the months and years ahead."
United Talent Agency (UTA) on Wednesday canceled its annual
Oscars party and said it will instead hold a rally in Beverly
Hills two days before the Feb. 26 Oscar ceremony to protest
"anti-immigrant sentiment" in the United States.
"If our nation ceases to be the place where artists the world
over can come to express themselves freely, then we cease, in my
opinion, to be America," UTA chief executive Jeremy Zimmer said
in a statement.
UTA said it will also donate $250,000 to the American Civil
Liberties Union and the International Rescue Committee.
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The twin moves follow widespread opposition by celebrities to Trump
during the 2016 election campaign, and fiery speeches at recent
awards shows and rallies condemning Trump's travel restrictions on
seven predominantly Muslim nations.
On Monday, Cheryl Boone Isaacs, president of the Academy of Motion
Picture Arts and Sciences, said that barriers to artistic freedom
have "made Academy artists activists."
Trump's attempts to temporarily ban travel have hit Hollywood hard
ahead of the movie industry's most prestigious night.
Oscar-nominated Iranian director Asghar Farhadi and actress Taraneh
Alidoosti have said they will boycott the Academy Awards to protest
Trump's actions. Syrian civilian rescue workers featured in the
Oscar-nominated documentary "The White Helmets," will be unable to
attend, producers said this week.
UTA represents Farhadi. The agency said the Tehran-based director
said he felt "honored and in tears" when he heard about the
announcement.
(Reporting by Piya Sinha-Roy and Jill Serjeant; Editing by David
Gregorio)
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