Tina Fey Defends Free Speech In Wake Of Terrorist Attack

Tina Fey, creator of 30 Rock and former Saturday Night Live star, has spoken out in defense of freedom of speech. Fey was at the Television Critics Association press tour stop in Pasadena, Calif. yesterday to give a preview of her upcoming Netflix comedy, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.Reporters asked for Fey’s response to the terrorist attack on the French satire newspaper Charlie Hebdo.

Fey began talking about the tragedy by commenting, “Obviously, that news is terrible and tragic and upsetting.”

Fey was referring to yesterday when masked gunmen killed twelve people – ten journalists and two police officers – after a shooting at the Paris office. The attack is believed to have been the result of Muslim radicals furious with the publication’s parody of the prophet Mohammed.

Fey believes all speech should be defended no matter what while others believe some satire isn’t worth the controversy. Fey did bring up what recently happened with The Interview.

“We’re Americans, and even if it’s dumb jokes in The Interview, we have the right to make them.

“You look at that and you look at the controversy surrounding The Interview, it makes you think about how important free speech is and how it absolutely must be defended. [We] cannot back down on free speech in any way. We all have to stand firm on the issue of free speech.”

A reporter asked Fey if she ever felt the need to censor herself. Fey’s show, 30 Rock, often satirized political figures and news stories. Fey responded anchoring the “Weekend Update” segments on Saturday Night Live was “the closest we ever got” to free speech debates.

“I think the closest we ever got to that was doing Weekend Update, which was a long time ago. But even that was a different era, because in a social media era where you make a joke on American TV and it can go worldwide, it’s a different environment.”

Tina Fey is among several comedians to speak out. Conan O’Brien, Jon Stewart, Michael Ian Black and Bill Maher have shared their thoughts along the same lines as Fey.

Jon Stewart, Louis C.K., Other Comedians Pay Tribute To Charlie Hebdo http://t.co/fKNE8Lr8Fs pic.twitter.com/VtMehyuEz7

— BuzzFeed (@BuzzFeed) January 8, 2015

Jon Stewart opened Wednesday night’s Daily Show with a tribute to the victims of the Charlie Hebdo attack and reflected on the tragedy.

“Our hearts are with the staff of Charlie Hebdo and their families tonight.

I know very few people go into comedy, you know, as an act of courage. Mainly because it shouldn’t have to be that. It shouldn’t be an act of courage. It should be taken as established law.

But those guys at Hebdo had it, and they were killed for their … cartoons.”

Comments from the general public regarding Tina Fey’s stance ranged from agreeing with Fey to stating they aren’t comfortable with religions being mocked.

This Sunday Tina Fey will be hosting the Golden Globes for the third and final time with Amy Poehler. Fey said she “isn’t ready” and admitted she and Amy haven’t written their material yet, joking, “We gotta hurry up.”

Do you agree with Tina Fey’s views?

[Image via NBCU Photo Bank via Getty]