The Drum Awards for Marketing - Extended Deadline

-d -h -min -sec

Seth Rogen The Interview North Korea

Brad Pitt, Daniel Craig and Julia Roberts' phone numbers stolen in Sony hack dubbed 'righteous' by DPRK

Author

By John McCarthy, Opinion Editor

December 9, 2014 | 3 min read

Sony Pictures has fallen victim to a mass leak of private employee data, including that of Hollywood celebrities on its payroll, including Brad Pitt, Daniel Craig, Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts.

Franco and Rogen's take on the hermit state will not be subtle

The actors' phone numbers, travelling aliases and salaries were published during the weekend, serving only as the tip of the iceberg of the theft. Also released was a wealth of information regarding the firm’s employees including contact details, social security numbers and insurance claims.

This only built upon the damage caused by last month's leak of Sony's five upcoming Christmas releases as the intrusion lifted the lid on the movie company’s inner workings.

The popular theory is that North Korea is behind the attacks although Sony will not confirm the culprits and the state has denied responsibility - while praising those involved.

On Monday, NK News picked up a North Korean sanctioned statement, which read: “We do not know where in America the Sony Pictures is situated and for what wrongdoings it became the target of the attack nor we feel the need to know about it.

"But what we clearly know is that the Sony Pictures is the very one which was going to produce a film abetting a terrorist act while hurting the dignity of the supreme leadership of the DPRK by taking advantage of the hostile policy of the U.S. administration towards the DPRK.”

The statement was referring to Seth Rogan and James Franco’s movie ‘The Interview’ which will show the comics embark on a zany quest to land an interview with Kim Jung Un.

The statement said: "The hacking into the Sony Pictures might be a righteous deed of the supporters and sympathizers with the DPRK in response to its appeal."

Hacking collective Guardians of Peace has demanded that Sony Pictures remove the movie from release in a bizarre statement which read: “Do carry out our demand if you want to escape us. And, Stop immediately showing the movie of terrorism which can break the regional peace and cause the War!”

It is unclear whether the group is backed by the DPRK or if those behind the attacks are merely fanning the flames that the rogue state is involved.

This comes during a disastrous week for Sony which also saw its PlayStation Network taken down on Monday by a separate hacking group called the ‘Lizard Squad’.

Seth Rogen The Interview North Korea

Content created with:

Sony Pictures

Find out more

More from Seth Rogen

View all

Trending

Industry insights

View all
Add your own content +