Amazon’s Jeff Bezos is taking a stand totally free speech. Or is he?
The Washington Put up proprietor’s editorial decree rocked journalism. Bezo instructed the Put up’s opinion part to hyper-focus on free markets and private liberties. Naturally, the paper’s far-left journalists cried out in ache.
One give up on the spot.
Be taught to code…
WaPo Editor Quits After Bezos Orders Opinion Web page to Defend Free Markets, Private Liberty https://t.co/gkYf9ZTeMG
— Rep. Scott Perry (@RepScottPerry) February 26, 2025
That speaks volumes as to the place journalists stand on core U.S. values right this moment.
Nobody must be stunned, although. Think about how CBS Information now embraces speech police within the trendy period.
We may cheer Bezos’ decree, and lots of are doing simply that.
Look nearer.
Bezos’ Amazon has routinely censored artwork that didn’t match the progressive narrative. Simply ask filmmaker and journalist Mike Cernovich.
That’s a beautiful sentiment, @JeffBezos. Would you thoughts sharing it with Amazon? They banned my film Hoaxed with out rationalization. When a brand new distributor re-released it, Amazon pulled it once more.
Why? pic.twitter.com/FS1G03Oxr1
— Cernovich (@Cernovich) February 26, 2025
Cernovich says Amazon banned his 2019 documentary “Hoaxed” not as soon as however twice. HiT beforehand reported on the matter.
Director Eli Steele’s compelling 2020 documentary “What Killed Michael Brown?” practically suffered the identical destiny. Amazon’s editorial staff initially blocked the movie’s launch on the platform, citing its so-called poor high quality.
Steele’s movies characteristic stable craftsmanship and nuanced narratives. A fast media storm erupted and Amazon backpedaled.
The mega platform initially agreed to stream director Michael Pack’s “Created Equal: Clarence Thomas in His Personal Phrases.” The 2020 film debuted on PBS and let the reclusive Supreme Court docket justice share his inspirational story.
Then, with out warning, Amazon eliminated the documentary from its platform throughout Black Historical past Month.
No rationalization.
Filmmaker Robby Starbuck ran right into a more moderen Amazon roadblock. The anti-DEI activist’s movie, “The Conflict on Youngsters,” obtained blocked by Amazon’s censors final yr. The documentary examines the sexualization of kids within the trendy period.
Good luck discovering it on Amazon’s streaming market. It’s additionally unavailable to purchase in DVD kind.
Nonetheless.
Want extra?
Creator Jack Posobiec’s e book, “Bulletproof,” initially featured the incorrect e book cowl on its official Amazon web page final yr. The tome recalled the assassination try in opposition to then-candidate Trump.
Director Amanda Milius’ 2020 documentary “The Plot Towards the President” confronted an Amazon approval delay that caught the consideration of a Legacy Media outlet. The movie excoriated the Russian Collusion Hoax earlier than many information retailers caught up with the reality.
That delay mattered.
Milius’ staff slated the movie for an October launch, hoping to coach voters within the runup to the presidential election.
A few of these circumstances didn’t get legacy media consideration. Bezos is a really busy man, so it’s potential he by no means discovered about his firm’s censorship practices.
Attainable, however unlikely. He couldn’t have missed these censorship tales.
The firm banned Ryan Anderson’s “When Harry Turned Sally: Responding to the Transgender Second” in 2021. Amazon deemed materials disparaging the trans agenda “hate speech,” though customers may order Adolf Hitler’s “Mein Kampf” each then and now.
Amazon additionally censored books essential of the COVID-19 vaccines following strain by the Biden administration.
Maybe Bezos’s decree displays a real change of coronary heart. We’ve seen Mark Zuckerberg do an about-face concerning Fb’s biased fact-checking regime within the wake of Donald Trump’s Nov. 5 victory.
The Amazon billionaire could have equally seen the sunshine. Or, his decree is an try and trick free speech believers throughout the fruited plain.
Editor’s Word: It’s a brutal time to be an unbiased journalist, but it surely’s by no means been extra obligatory given the sorry state of the company press. Should you’re having fun with Hollywood in Toto, I hope you’ll take into account leaving a coin (or two) in our Tip Jar.