Name: Will Smith’s New Film Production Joins Growing Georgia Boycotts Over Voting Law
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Will Smith’s New Film Production Joins Growing Georgia Boycotts Over Voting Law

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LatestBy|April 12, 2021 2:41 p.m.Actor Will Smith and director Antoine Fuqua announced on Monday that their upcoming film production “Emancipation” will no longer take place in Georgia in response to the state’s restrictive voting law.Produced and financed by Apple Studios, Smith and Fuqua’s slavery-era drama is the first major production to directly point to the new Georgia law in their decision to relocate its production out of the state.“At this moment in time, the nation is coming to terms with its history and is attempting to eliminate vestiges of institutional racism to achieve true racial justice,” Smith and Fuqua said in a . “We cannot in good conscience provide economic support to a government that enacts regressive voting laws that are designed to restrict voter access.”Smith and Fuqua liken the new Georgia voting law to “voting impediments that were passed at the end of Reconstruction” that restricted voting access for many Americans.“Regrettably, we feel compelled to move our film production work from Georgia to another state,” Smith and Fuqua said.The film, which is scheduled to begin production this summer, features Smith playing a character based off of a real-life enslaved man named Peter, who joined the Union Army after emancipating himself from a Southern plantation.Boycotts in reaction to the new law in Georgia, which offers significant tax incentives to Hollywood productions, has faced criticism from activists such as Stacey Abrams, who argue that the move unfairly impacts Georgians’ livelihoods that depend on large events and productions in the state.After corporations with Georgia ties came out against the new state law, following days of mounting backlash over their initial muted opposition to the legislation, the MLB decided to relocate its All-Star Game and 2021 draft out of Atlanta in response to the legislation’s restrictive provisions.Although President Biden cheered on the MLB’s decision, not all prominent figures who had spoken out against the state’s law applauded the move., who led a group of dozens of Black corporate executives urging more corporations to speak out against Georgia’s new voting law, decried the MLB’s boycott earlier this month. Chenault told CNN that the issue of voting rights restrictions isn’t only limited to Georgia, and that he and other Black executives demanded that corporations publicly oppose legislation that works to restrict voting access. Chenault made clear that the group “does not favor boycotts.”&nbsp;Have a tip? !includes:&nbsp;Dear Reader,When we asked recently what makes TPM different from other outlets, readers cited factors like honesty, curiosity, transparency, and our vibrant community. They also pointed to our ability to report on important stories and trends long before they are picked up by mainstream outlets; our ability to contextualize information within the arc of history; and our focus on the real-world consequences of the news.Our unique approach to reporting and presenting the news, however, wouldn’t be possible without our readers’ support. That’s not just marketing speak, it’s true: our work would literally not be possible without readers deciding to become members. Not only does member support account for more than 80% of TPM’s revenue, our members have helped us build an engaged and informed community. Many of our best stories were born from reader tips and valuable member feedback.We do what other news outlets can’t or won’t do because our members’ support gives us real independence.If you enjoy reading TPM and value what we do, become a member today.Sincerely,TPM StaffCommentsFounder &amp; Editor-in-Chief:Executive Editor:Managing Editor:Associate Editor:Investigations Desk:Reporters:Newswriter:Editor at Large:General Counsel:Publisher:Head of Product:Director of Technology:Associate Publisher:Front End Developer:Senior Designer:

LatestBy|April 12, 2021 2:41 p.m.Actor Will Smith and director Antoine Fuqua announced on Monday that their upcoming film production “Emancipation” will no longer take place in Georgia in response to the state’s restrictive voting law.Produced and financed by Apple Studios, Smith and Fuqua’s slavery-era drama is the first major production to directly point to the new Georgia law in their decision to relocate its production out of the state.“At this moment in time, the nation is coming to terms with its history and is attempting to eliminate vestiges of institutional racism to achieve true...

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Will Smith’s New Film Production Joins Growing Georgia Boycotts Over Voting Law

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