Despite WBD Approval Of Paramount Merger, Hollywood Continues Battle

BusinessMediaDespite WBD Approval Of Paramount Merger, Hollywood Continues BattleByRick Ellis,Contributor.Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. The global media business, from streaming to linear TVFollow AuthorApr 23, 2026, 08:41pm EDTParamount logo displayed on a laptop screen and Warner Bros logo displayed on a phone screen are seen in this illustration photo taken in Krakow, Poland on February 28, 2026. (Photo by Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty Images)NurPhoto via Getty ImagesWarner Bros. Discovery shareholders on Thursday "overwhelmingly" approved the deal to sell the company to David Ellison's Paramount.But despite that news, a coalition of First Amendment advocates, unions, democracy defenders and Hollywood actors and directors have vowed to continue fighting final approval of the merger.The Democracy Defenders Fund, which is spearheading the opposition campaign, including an open letter which has grown to over 4,000 names, released the following statement following the shareholder vote:“A-list stars, professionals from every corner of the film and entertainment industry, elected officials, and concerned citizens have made their voices heard: the Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery merger must be stopped. And it can be. Since launching, our campaign has quadrupled in size with calls for action by state attorneys general amplified by celebrities, legal experts, and elected officials alike. Even today, WBD’s shareholder vote showed cracks in their armor when they voted down CEO David Zaslav's exorbitant golden parachute package. The momentum is on our side, and it will continue to build. This anti-competitive merger, which poses huge threats to freedom of the press and creative expression, is not a done deal. We will continue to fight against it every step of the way.”The group includes these organizations, which have vowed to combine resources and funding in an effort to stop the merger:American Economic Liber...