Hollywood bigwigs joke that Barack Obama probably likes Django Unchained, 12 Years a Slave, Kevin Hart
 
 
Amy Pascal, the co-chair of Sony Pictures, and Scott Rudin, a big-time producer, joked over email that President Obama was probably a fan of movies starring black people, including Django Unchained, 12 Years a Slave, and The Butler, according to BuzzFeed. The emails were revealed as part of an attack on Sony by hackers.
Rudin, a top film producer responsible for films like No Country for Old Men and Moneyball, responded, "Would he like to finance some movies." Pascal replied, "I doubt it. Should I ask him if he liked DJANGO?" Rudin responded: "12 YEARS." Pascal quickly continued down the path of guessing Obama preferred movies by or starring African Americans. "Or the butler. Or think like a man? [sic]"
Rudin's response: "Ride-along. I bet he likes Kevin Hart." [BuzzFeed]
Hilarious! Rudin and Pascal later apologized.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
 
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Ryu Spaeth is deputy editor at TheWeek.com. Follow him on Twitter.
- 
 Testosterone therapy in women highlights the lack of women’s health research Testosterone therapy in women highlights the lack of women’s health researchThe explainer There is no FDA-approved testosterone product for women 
- 
 Magazine solutions - November 7, 2025 Magazine solutions - November 7, 2025Puzzles and Quizzes Issue - November 7, 2025 
- 
 Magazine printables - November 7, 2025 Magazine printables - November 7, 2025Puzzles and Quizzes Issue - November 7, 2025 
- 
 Hungary’s Krasznahorkai wins Nobel for literature Hungary’s Krasznahorkai wins Nobel for literatureSpeed Read László Krasznahorkai is the author of acclaimed novels like ‘The Melancholy of Resistance’ and ‘Satantango’ 
- 
 Primatologist Jane Goodall dies at 91 Primatologist Jane Goodall dies at 91Speed Read She rose to fame following her groundbreaking field research with chimpanzees 
- 
 Florida erases rainbow crosswalk at Pulse nightclub Florida erases rainbow crosswalk at Pulse nightclubSpeed Read The colorful crosswalk was outside the former LGBTQ nightclub where 49 people were killed in a 2016 shooting 
- 
 Trump says Smithsonian too focused on slavery's ills Trump says Smithsonian too focused on slavery's illsSpeed Read The president would prefer the museum to highlight 'success,' 'brightness' and 'the future' 
- 
 Trump to host Kennedy Honors for Kiss, Stallone Trump to host Kennedy Honors for Kiss, StalloneSpeed Read Actor Sylvester Stallone and the glam-rock band Kiss were among those named as this year's inductees 
- 
 White House seeks to bend Smithsonian to Trump's view White House seeks to bend Smithsonian to Trump's viewSpeed Read The Smithsonian Institution's 21 museums are under review to ensure their content aligns with the president's interpretation of American history 
- 
 Charlamagne Tha God irks Trump with Epstein talk Charlamagne Tha God irks Trump with Epstein talkSpeed Read The radio host said the Jeffrey Epstein scandal could help 'traditional conservatives' take back the Republican Party 
- 
 CBS cancels Colbert's 'Late Show' CBS cancels Colbert's 'Late Show'Speed Read 'The Late Show with Stephen Colbert' is ending next year