Hack Hits Paramount’s X Account in the Middle of Warner Bros. Takeover Fight

Paramount Pictures’ official X account appeared to be taken over on Tuesday, with the profile’s bio suddenly showing a strange message that read, “Proud arm of the fascist regime.”

The change was visible to the account’s nearly 3.5 million followers before it was switched back to its normal description.

The timing drew attention because it came right after a major shake-up in the media world. A day earlier, it was reported that David Ellison’s Paramount Skydance had launched a hostile bid directly to Warner Bros. Discovery shareholders. That move followed Netflix and Warner Bros. Discovery reaching a deal for the streamer to acquire WB’s studios, HBO, HBO Max, and the gaming division.

There are also some long-running ties between Donald Trump and the Ellison family. Trump has spoken warmly about David Ellison and his father, Larry Ellison.

In a past comment to reporters on Air Force One, Trump said, “They’re big supporters of mine.” Earlier this year, after Skydance took control of Paramount Global, Trump also said of David Ellison, “he’ll do a great job.”

But despite Trump’s past support for the Ellisons, he criticized them on Monday over a new “60 Minutes” segment featuring Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene. Posting on Truth Social, Trump wrote, “My real problem with the show, however, wasn’t the low IQ traitor, it was that the new ownership of 60 Minutes, Paramount, would allow a show like this to air. THEY ARE NO BETTER THAN THE OLD OWNERSHIP,” and said the show had gotten worse since the Ellisons took over.

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