Mitt Romney urges Sony to 'fight,' release 'The Interview' free online

WASHINGTON, Dec. 19 (UPI) -- Former presidential candidate Mitt Romney weighed in on Sony Entertainment's decision to cancel the theatrical release Friday of The Interview and urged the production company not to cave to hacker's threats.

Romney's plea followed Sony's decision to cancel the release of the film -- a comedy in which two journalists are enlisted to kill North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un -- after multiple theater companies canceled scheduled screenings of the film over violence threats made by a group that hacked Sony's computer system in November.

"@SonyPictures don't cave, fight: release @TheInterview free online globally," Romney tweeted. "Ask viewers for voluntary $5 contribution to fight #Ebola."

The former Massachusetts governor's request echoes that of Rep. Steve Israel, D-N.Y., who also shared his discontent with the handling of the threats on Twitter.

"No one should kid themselves. With the Sony collapse, America has lost its first cyberwar. This is a very very dangerous precedent," tweeted former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, who also held a Q&A on North Korea's Cyber War on America via Facebook on Thursday evening.

The FBI confirmed Fridday that North Koreans were behind the Sony hack.

The attack started with the release of emails from Sony's executives, employees and celebrities with ties to production giant.

The production and release of another film has halted following the hacker's threats to attack theaters showing The Interview.