After a major hack threw Sony Pictures for a loop and nearly stopped the release of The Interview, Sony CEO Kazuo Hirai spoke to the audience at CES (Consumer Electronics Show) in Las Vegas about the matter. During it, he thanked employees and partners for their hard work and effort during the trying times.
Hirai said that Sony Pictures Entertainment, former employees and current employees were "the victims of one of the most vicious and malicious cyberattacks in recent history."
He added, "But I have to say that I am very proud of all the employees, and certainly the partners that we work with as well, who stood up against some of the extortionist efforts of the criminals."
Hirai went on to mention Seth Rogen's and James Franco's The Interview, which after being pulled from theaters due to threats of terrorist attacks, went on to open in smaller theaters and was offered on video-on-demand services. It made $1.1 million in its opening weekend, and has grossed $5 million in the US.
Hirai said of it, "I have to say, freedom of speech, freedom of expression, freedom of association: those are very important lifelines for Sony and our entertainment business. And today, as you all know, The Interview is now available for audiences to enjoy through multiple online venues and, as of the first of this month, in more than 580 independent theaters in the United States.
