Not while other media sources, like CBS, are around:
Cybersecurity experts are questioning the FBI’s claim that North Korea is responsible for the hack that crippled Sony Pictures. Kurt Stammberger, a senior vice president with cybersecurity firm Norse, told CBS News his company has data that doubts some of the FBI’s findings…
He says Norse data is pointing towards a woman who calls herself “Lena” and claims to be connected with the so-called “Guardians of Peace” hacking group. Norse believes it’s identified this woman as someone who worked at Sony in Los Angeles for ten years until leaving the company this past May…
It’s worth noting that the original demand of the hackers was for money from Sony in exchange for not releasing embarrassing information. There was no mention of the movie “The Interview”…
Back before watching the thing was proclaimed a patriotic duty, Gawker‘s Hollywood sub-blog Defamer claimed that “Sony executives were worried about the flick even before they got hacked“:
… A previous report by Bloomberg said Sony execs altered the gory finale of The Interview, toning down the extent to which Kim Jong Un’s head is exploded and set aflame. But the movie faced more problems than just Supreme Leader’s immolation scene—Sony executives and distribution partners around the world were worried that the movie was too offensive, “desperately unfunny,” and worst of all, starred James Franco.
Emails sent from UK Sony Pictures exec Peter Taylor to president of Sony Pictures Releasing International Steven O’Dell are particularly harsh, describing the comedy as a “misfire,” “unfunny and repetitive,” with “a level of realistic violence that would be shocking in a horror movie.” Taylor holds one of the film’s co-stars in particularly low regard: “James Franco proves once again that irritation is his strong suit which is a shame because the character could have been appealing and funny out of his hands.”…
The truth is, Sony’s been worried about this for a long time…
Sony’s international distribution partners—who saw the movie at a screening in London in June—show a lot of uncertainty that anyone, anyone in the world, will enjoy this movie…
The one bright spot, apparently, was that the Australians loved it. (Sorry, Australia.) Perhaps allowing the Guardians of Peace and/or the CIA to handle publicity and release was all for the best, after all…
*********
ETA: Hat tip to diligent commentor Corner Stone (comment #27)
Open Thread: Sony Is Not Done Being Humiliated YetPost + Comments (84)