Sony Pictures boss Michael Lynton denied Friday that the Hollywood studio has "caved" by canceling the release of a film that triggered a cyberattack blamed on North Korea.
"We have not caved, we have not given in, we have persevered and we have not backed down," Lynton told CNN, shortly after President Barack Obama accused Sony of making a "mistake" by pulling controversial film "The Interview."
"We have always had every desire to have the American public see this movie."
Asked directly about Obama's comment, he said: "No. Actually the unfortunate part is in this instance, the president, the press and the public are mistaken as to what actually happened."
He then explained how Sony had made its decision after most major US theater chains announced that they would not screen the movie, which had been due for release on December 25, Christmas Day.
Sony's "The Interview" recounts a fictional CIA plot to assassinate North Korean dictator Kim Jong-Un.
Hackers launched a massive cyberattack on the studio on November 24, followed by a series of threats, including earlier this week invoking the September 11 attacks.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation said it had evidence that Pyongyang was behind the attack, although North Korea's mission to the United Nations almost immediately denied the claim.
Short link: