Hollywood’s Top Donors Freak Out After Biden’s Debate: ‘If He Doesn’t Drop Out, We’re Not Giving Any More Money to Democrats’

variety.com:

Tatiana Siegel It was meant to be a night to assuage Hollywood’s donor class’ concerns about President Joe Biden’s fitness.

But it quickly turned into a nightmare for some of the industry’s biggest Democratic backers. Top donors from the media and entertainment business are panicking about Biden’s performance after he stumbled through a 90-minute debate against former President Donald Trump that was watched by some 48 million people. “With all the text chains I’m on, people are basically like, ‘If he doesn’t drop out, we’re not giving any more money to Democrats or the Democratic Party.’ It’s like super intense,” said one high-profile Hollywood donor.

Adds another who is plugged in at the highest level of Hollywood fundraising: “There is a sense that the money dried up last night about 10 minutes into the debate.” The Friday hangover coincides with four separate New York Times opinion pieces Friday morning that added fuel to the entertainment industry’s angst: “Joe Biden Is a Good Man and a Good President.

He Must Bow Out of the Race”; “Biden Cannot Go on Like This”; “I’m Hearing High Anxiety From Democrats Over Biden’s Debate Performance”; and “Is Biden Too Old?