Jessica Chastain broke her silence after Apple TV+ postponed her show just three days before its premiere following Charlie Kirk‘s death.
“In the last five years since we’ve been making the show, we’ve seen an unfortunate amount of violence in the United States,” Chastain, 48, wrote via Instagram on Wednesday, September 24. “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 Pelosi’s husband, the assassination of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk, the recent shooting at an ABC affiliate station in California and over 300 school shootings across this country.”
Chastain continued: “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 actress revealed she didn’t agree with Apple TV+ delaying The Savant.
“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,” she added. “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.”
Chastain remained hopeful about the future of the show, adding, “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.”
Apple TV+ confirmed on Tuesday, September 23, that The Savant won’t be released as expected. Originally, the series was set to debut on Friday, September 26, with the first two episodes before transitioning to weekly releases until early November.
“After careful consideration, we have made the decision to postpone The Savant,” a spokesperson for Apple TV+ told Deadline. “We appreciate your understanding and look forward to releasing the series at a future date.”
Nnamdi Asomugha, Cole Doman, Jordana Spiro, Trinity Lee Shirley and Toussaint Francois Battiste also star in the eight-episode series alongside guest star Pablo Schreiber.
The Savant is based on Cosmopolitan’s 2019 article “Is It Possible to Stop a Mass Shooting Before It Happens?” and follows an undercover investigator who “infiltrates online hate groups in an effort to stop domestic extremists before they act.” Adapted by Melissa James Gibson, the series is based on the real woman profiled in the Cosmopolitan story, whose identity was carefully concealed.
Apple TV+’s decision to table The Savant for now comes after conservative political activist Kirk was killed at age 31 during a shooting at Utah Valley University earlier this month. He was speaking at the event on September 10 before “a single shot” was fired on campus from around 200 yards away. Kirk was subsequently taken to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
A suspect was ultimately arrested for Kirk’s murder and is currently facing charges. In the aftermath, the commentator’s death sparked an array of reactions. Jimmy Kimmel made headlines earlier this month after Us Weekly confirmed that ABC suspended Jimmy Kimmel Live! due to backlash over comments he made about the shooter and President Donald Trump’s reaction to Kirk’s death.
A spokesperson for the network told Us that the show was “preempted indefinitely.” In response, ABC received backlash from viewers speaking out online. Also, 400 celebrities signed an open letter in support of bringing the comedian, 57, back to late night, which led to ABC ultimately reversing their decision.
“Last Wednesday, we made the decision to suspend production on the show to avoid further inflaming a tense situation at an emotional moment for our country,” the Walt Disney Company said in a statement. “It is a decision we made because we felt some of the comments were ill-timed and thus insensitive. We have spent the last days having thoughtful conversations with Jimmy, and after those conversations, we reached the decision to return the show on Tuesday.”
Kimmel returned to his show on Tuesday, September 23, where he delivered an emotional monologue.
“I’ve been hearing a lot about what I need to say and do tonight. And the truth is, I don’t think what I have to say is going to make much of a difference. If you like me, you like me. If you don’t, you don’t. I have no illusions about changing anyone’s mind,” he said. “I do wanna make something clear, because it’s important to me as a human, and that is, you understand that it was never my intention to make light of the murder of a young man.”
Kimmel said he didn’t think “there’s anything funny about” Kirk’s assassination.
“I posted a message on Instagram on the day he was killed, sending love to his family and asking for compassion, and I meant it and I still do. Nor was it my intention to blame any specific group for the actions of what was obviously a deeply disturbed individual,” he continued. “That was really the opposite of the point I was trying to make. But I understand that to some that felt either ill-timed or unclear or maybe both. And for those who think I did point a finger. I get why you’re upset. If the situation was reversed, there’s a good chance I’d have felt the same way.”
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