Who Hijacked Paramount? The Official Account’s Bizarre Fascist Slogan, Explained
Paramount’s X account was hijacked on December 9, 2025, with its bio briefly declaring Proud arm of the fascist regime — a brazen hack that appears limited to the bio change, and there’s still no public statement.
Well, this escalated fast. Paramount spent part of December 9 putting out an unexpected brushfire after its official X bio suddenly read a very loud:
'Proud arm of the fascist regime'
Screenshots flew around immediately — you probably saw DiscussingFilm post it — and the line was removed soon after. The whole thing looks like a run-of-the-mill account breach. So far, there’s no sign anything deeper was compromised, and the studio hasn’t put out a broader statement about it yet.
Why that one-line bio touched a nerve
On its face, it’s a juvenile stunt. But it landed right as chatter has been heating up around a potential takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD), with Paramount (in tandem with Skydance) and Netflix positioned as rival suitors. The number floating around attached to a Paramount push: roughly $108.4 billion. When you talk about an entertainment giant swallowing another, people jump straight to fears about consolidation and control — and that’s where the 'fascist' label started getting flung around by critics online.
- Market power worry: Folks see a combined Paramount-Skydance controlling a huge swath of the business, and they’re spooked by one company tightening its grip. To be fair, a Netflix-led deal triggers the same anxiety, which is why this isn’t just about size.
- Politics in the mix: The New York Times has reported that Jared Kushner has been involved on the Paramount side of this WBD tug-of-war. Given he’s Donald Trump’s son-in-law, critics read that as a bid by the Trump orbit to exert soft influence over entertainment.
- Programming promises: The Independent previously reported that Skydance chief David Ellison — who would be a key figure if a Paramount-Skydance combination prevailed — told Trump he’d make sweeping changes to WBD programming if they took it over, with CNN specifically mentioned. That’s the part that makes media-watchers’ ears ring.
- Culture-war signals: The Los Angeles Times has covered cutbacks to DEI initiatives at the top of the company, which many see as aligning with conservative priorities. Layer that onto the above, and the 'MAGA megaphone' accusations write themselves in certain corners of the internet.
If Netflix wins vs. if Paramount wins
Recent buzz has Netflix as the likelier buyer. That sets off a different set of alarms. Netflix has never been gung-ho about wide theatrical expansion, and people worry a Netflix-run WBD would keep pushing movies toward at-home launches while theaters keep taking body blows. There’s also the familiar critique of Netflix prioritizing volume over curation, which makes Warner Bros. loyalists nervous about how long-running franchises and classic IP might be handled under that kind of pipeline.
If Paramount-Skydance ends up on top, the fears flip. The concerns center on politics bleeding into programming — from films and series to news — with some predicting a friendlier tone toward Trump across WBD’s informational brands. Whether that comes to pass or not, the perception alone is fueling the current blowback.
Where things stand after the hack
Right now, the X bio hack looks like a contained stunt. No broader breach has been disclosed, and Paramount hasn’t said more publicly. The bigger story is still the WBD sweepstakes. For a lot of people watching this, it feels like choosing the lesser of two headaches: a Netflix-led future that sidelines theaters, or a Paramount-Skydance future that might tilt the media ecosystem in a political direction.
Which outcome freaks you out less — or is there a version of this where you’re actually optimistic?