The Sony Pictures legal team has begun its campaign to beat back media coverage of the studio’s hack, and today leadership tried to address internal concerns during a company-wide town hall. Variety reports that CEO Michael Lynton and Co-Chairman Amy Pascal led two meetings on Sony’s lot in Culver City, California, with Lynton acknowledging the hardships, but assuring employees that “This will not take us down.”
Sony Pictures Entertainment CEO Michael Lynton and co-chair Amy Pascal told employees Monday that the cyber-security breach that exposed personal information and internal documents was a “criminal attack” that has challenged the studio but would not be its undoing. “This will not take us down,” said Lynton. “You should not be worried about the future of this studio.” He added that he was angry about the situation and sorry that staffers had their personal information and medical records dumped on the internet. Employees applauded Lynton’s remarks. The hackers unfairly targeted Sony’s business and its staff, the studio chiefs argued, and stressed that “innocent people” are the victims of the assault. Employees gathered in two groups on Sony’s Culver City, Calif., lot — the first presentation kicked off at 12:30 p.m. and the second one followed at approximately 1 p.m.