John Leguizamo’s Message to David Ellison: Think of What Americans Need

John Leguizamo is speaking out about the Paramount and Warner Bros. merger, and he’s imploring David Ellison to consider what the industry needs as he takes over the new Skydance.

“Come on, Dave. Do the right thing. Don’t just think of yourself and your pocket. Think of what Americans need and what the industry needs. Think of others for a change.”

Although the terms of the merger include Paramount-WBD being prohibited from selling the Paramount Studios or Warner Bros. lots in California for at least five years. Leguizamo said “that’s still not enough.”

“You got an end date. You got an expiration date. That’s not cool,” he said. “People have to plan for the rest of their lives. They plan for five years, and then what?”

“…The industry belongs in L.A.,” Leguizamo said Friday at the Critics Choice Association’s 6th Annual Celebración of Cinema & Television, where he was honored with the Career Achievement Award. “We need to support it and grow it. Rebuild it and add to it. Not subtract.”

In April, Leguizamo was one of more than 4,000 film and TV stars and creatives who signed an open letter opposing Paramount Skydance’s pending acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery.

“We are deeply concerned by indications of support for this merger that prioritize the interests of a small group of powerful stakeholders over the broader public good,” said the letter, which was published by the New York Times and available on the website BlocktheMerger.com. “The integrity, independence, and diversity of our industry would be grievously compromised. Competition is essential for a healthy economy and a healthy democracy. So is thoughtful regulation and enforcement.”

Other signatories included Joaquin Phoenix, Ben Stiller, Kristen Stewart, Robert De Niro, Sofia Coppola, Florence Pugh, Pedro Pascal, Edward Norton, Atsuko Okatsuka, Adam McKay, Alan Cumming, Alyssa Milano, Boots Riley, Bryan Cranston, Cynthia Nixon, Damon Lindelof, David Fincher, Denis Villeneuve, Elliot Page, Glenn Close, Jane Fonda, JJ Abrams, Jason Bateman, John Leguizamo, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Margaret Cho, Mark Ruffalo, Noah Wyle, Patti Lupone, Ramy Youssef, Rosario Dawson, Rosie O’Donnell, Ted Danson, Tiffany Haddish, Tig Notaro, Yorgos Lanthimos and Yvette Nicole Brown.

Leguizamo also talked about receiving the Career Achievement Award. “It means they five that to you when you think your career is over,” he cracked, before continuing, “I’ve been in it for four decades, a long time, a lot of sacrifices, a lot of great things, a lot of pain and it feels like, ‘Oh, wow. It was worth for something. People notice and recognize what you’ve done and contributed to cinema.’”

He delivered emotional remarks while accepting the award from director Gregory Nava. “I will not be finished until every Latin child in this country can turn on a screen,” he said, tearing up. “When a Latin child in this country can turn on a screen and see their own face, their own name, their grandma’s accent, not getting arrested, not dying in minute nine [of an action movie], just living, just being a whole person, that’s the dream. It’s an embarrassingly small one, but they’ve made us fight over it for over a hundred years. So keep creating. Keep failing forward and don’t’ let anyone every quiet your voice, including the one inside your head telling you that you’re not good enough. That voice is a fucking liar and it doesn’t know what the hell it’s talking about.”

Honorees also included Aimee Carrero (Supporting Actress Award – Series; “Your Friends & Neighbors”), Beth de Araújo (Breakthrough Director Award; “Josephine”), Inde Navarrette (Breakthrough Actress Award – Film; “Obsession”), James Ortiz (Innovator Award; “Project Hail Mary”), Javier Calvo & Javier Ambrossi, popularly known as “Los Javis” (Director Award; “La Bola Negra”), Judy Reyes (Trailblazer Award; “High Potential”), Laysla De Oliveira (Breakthrough Actress Award – Series; “Lioness”), Oscar Nuñez (Vanguard Award; “The Paper”), Peter Dager (Rising Star Award; “Stick”) and Rodrigo Teixeira (Producer Award; “Paper Tiger”).