--- title: Charlie Hebdo Terror Attack: Tina Fey Defends Satire, Free Speech description: The writer and comedian spoke up following a terrorist attack on the French satire newspaper Charlie Hebdo canonical: https://time.com/3658423/tina-fey-free-speech-charlie-hebdo-the-interview/ author: Samantha Grossman article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2015-01-07T21:51:44.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-05-11T04:48:11.779Z og:title: Tina Fey: 'We Cannot Back Down on Free Speech in Any Way' og:description: She spoke up following a terrorist attack on the French satire newspaper 'Charlie Hebdo' og:url: https://time.com/3658423/tina-fey-free-speech-charlie-hebdo-the-interview/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt0eb6c74d1a304264/69876885524fc0335cdeab2c/458396228.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 1200 og:image:height: 675 og:image:alt: Tina Fey og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Tina Fey: 'We Cannot Back Down on Free Speech in Any Way' twitter:description: She spoke up following a terrorist attack on the French satire newspaper 'Charlie Hebdo' twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt0eb6c74d1a304264/69876885524fc0335cdeab2c/458396228.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # Tina Fey: 'We Cannot Back Down on Free Speech in Any Way' by [Samantha Grossman](https://time.com/author/samantha-grossman/) ## Samantha Grossman Jan 7, 2015 9:51 PM UTC  Actress Tina Fey arrives at the 21st Annual ELLE Women In Hollywood Awards at Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills on October 20, 2014. Actress Tina Fey arrives at the 21st Annual ELLE Women In Hollywood Awards at Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills on October 20, 2014.Axelle/Bauer-Griffin—FilmMagic / Getty Images by [Samantha Grossman](https://time.com/author/samantha-grossman/) ## Samantha Grossman Jan 7, 2015 9:51 PM UTC In the wake of Wednesday’s shooting at the Paris office of satirical newspaper _Charlie Hebdo_, [which left](http://time.com/3657314/paris-shooting-charlie-hebdo/) at least 10 journalists and two police officers dead, comedy icon Tina Fey took a moment to respond, emphasizing the importance of free speech. “Obviously, that news is terrible and tragic and upsetting,” the _30 Rock_ creator and _SNL_ alum said [when asked](http://www.buzzfeed.com/jarettwieselman/tina-fey-right-to-satirize-the-interview?bftw&utm%5Fterm=4ldqpfp#.hxJEPXw8Ed) about the deadly attack at a Television Critics Association press tour in Pasadena, Calif. Fey continued, connecting the tragedy in France with another recent global issue concerning free speech. “You look at that and you look at the controversy surrounding _The Interview_, it makes you think about how important free speech is and how it absolutely must be defended,” Fey said. “\[We\] cannot back down on free speech in any way. We all have to stand firm on the issue of free speech.” Fey’s show _30 Rock_ often satirized everything from the media to gender politics to religion, as did her work on _Saturday Night Live —_ but it rarely stirred up controversy at the same level as _Charlie Hebdo_. “But we’re Americans,” Fey added, “and even if it’s dumb jokes in _The Interview_, we have the right to make them.” ([h/t BuzzFeed)](http://www.buzzfeed.com/jarettwieselman/tina-fey-right-to-satirize-the-interview?bftw&utm%5Fterm=4ldqpfp#.hxJEPXw8Ed) ### See Covers Published by Charlie Hebdo  In this cover, the newspaper called itself an irresponsible newspaper, and likening itself to a Neanderthal, claiming that the invention of humor is the process of adding fuel to the fire. Charlie Hebdo  "The socialist party has chosen its maid." (François Hollande vacuums up Nicolas Sarkozy) Charlie Hebdo  "Gay marriage is so last year!" "Let's go for gay divorce now!" Charlie Hebdo  Mitt Romney seen yelling, "For the White House, an actual white!" during the 2012 election in which he ran against President Barack Obama. To the right, French leaders Francois Fillon and Jean-Francois Copé hold a sign that says "no immigrants can vote." Charlie Hebdo  "We don't have prostitutes any more. Thank god, we still have Miss France." Charlie Hebdo  Osama bin Laden in a late Elvis costume. "Bin Laden is alive!" Charlie Hebdo  "Where are our taxes going?" Missile: "On Syrians' faces." Charlie Hebdo  "Zero growth." Hollande sits in lifeguard chair and says, "We don't move," while everyone in the water drowns. Charlie Hebdo  "The postal service is being privatized?" Rope (presumably for hanging): "I am your new human resources department" Charlie Hebdo  Charlie Hebdo criticized Europe being ruled by banks. Here Hitler shown saying, "I'm an idiot! I should have worked at the BNP!" (One of the largest banks in France.) Charlie Hebdo  Sunday, May 6, 2012, one minute before the election results - France prepares to flick away Sarkozy. Charlie Hebdo  First official photo of newly elected Hollande, pushing Sarkozy into a meat grinder. Charlie Hebdo  Depicted: Marine Le Pen, leader of the far right Front National party. "The new model for John Galliano." Galliano, portrayed in background, made anti-Semitic remarks just before Paris Fashion Week in 2011. Charlie Hebdo  After Gerard Depardieu decided to leave France for Belgium to avoid taxes, Charlie Hebdo published a cover asking if Belgium had the capacity to welcome the entire world's cholesterol. Charlie Hebdo  After an armed man entered French newspaper LibŽration's offices in Paris in 2013, injuring one staff member, Charlie Hebdo published this cover which reads: The press is doing fine. It excites jerks." 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