Actress Jessica Chastain Blasts Apple’s Decision To Delay Show About Hunting White Supremacists
Actress Jessica Chastain released a statement on Wednesday, blasting Apple over their decision to pull the debut of her show centered on fighting white supremacists.
The release of The Savant was pulled on Tuesday, just three days ahead of its streaming debut date.
“After careful consideration, we have made the decision to postpone The Savant,” Apple said in a statement. “We appreciate your understanding and look forward to releasing the series at a future date.”
Apple did not specify if any recent events influenced their decision, but critics have pointed to the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk as a likely reason. Chastain appeared to agree with a post on Instagram calling the show too “relevant.”
The Oscar-winning actress mentioned the killing of Kirk, as well as other recent examples of political violence, including the January 6 Capitol riot and the assassination attempt on President Donald Trump.
Chastain wrote:
I want to say how much I value my partnership with Apple. They’ve been incredible collaborators and I deeply respect their team. That said, I wanted to reach out and let you know that we’re not aligned on the decision to pause the release of The Savant. In the last five years since we’ve been making the show, we’ve seen an unfortunate amount of violence in the United States: the kidnapping attempt on Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer; the January 6th attack on the Capitol; the assassination attempts on President Trump; the political assassinations of Democratic representatives in Minnesota; the attack on Speaker [Nancy] Pelosi’s husband; the assassination of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk.
Apple’s decision also came on the heels of late night comedian Jimmy Kimmel being briefly suspended by ABC over comments related to the assassination of Kirk. Kimmel has since returned to the airwaves, but is still being protested by broadcast groups.
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Chastain continued in her statement:
These incidents, though far from encompassing the full range of violence witnessed in the United States, illustrate a broader mindset that crosses the political spectrum and must be confronted. I’ve never shied away from difficult subjects, and while I wish this show wasn’t so relevant, unfortunately it is. The Savant is about the heroes who work every day to stop violence before it happens, and honoring their courage feels more urgent than ever. While I respect Apple’s decision to pause the release for now, I remain hopeful the show will reach audiences soon. Until then, I’m wishing safety and strength for everyone, and I’ll let you know if and when The Savant is released.
The Savant follows Jodi Goodwin (played by Chastain), who infiltrates hate groups online. The show is based on a 2019 Cosmopolitan article about the real “Savant.”
