The 24 star defends the show after the U.S. military blames it for influencing interrogation tactics
Summary
– 24 became a massive success, making Kiefer Sutherland one of TV’s highest-paid actors
– The show faced backlash for its intense interrogation scenes, with critics arguing it promoted torture
– Sutherland dismissed claims that 24 influenced real-world war crimes, calling it a scapegoat
Kiefer Sutherland’s role as Jack Bauer in 24 redefined action television, making him one of the highest-paid actors of his time. The show’s real-time storytelling and high-stakes action captivated audiences, but its brutal interrogation scenes sparked controversy. Critics accused 24 of glorifying torture, and in 2006, the U.S. military raised concerns that the show was influencing real-life soldiers.
Brigadier Patrick Finnegan, then dean at West Point, visited the 24 sets to warn producers that young recruits saw Bauer’s interrogation tactics as legitimate. He even suggested that the show feature a storyline in which torture fails to produce results.
Sutherland rejected the idea that 24 should be blamed for real-world war crimes. Speaking to The Independent, he dismissed the accusations as absurd.
The second Finnegan made the comment public as if somehow 24 would become your excuse for Abu Ghraib… you must be kidding me. That I won’t accept. To use 24, a television show, as a scapegoat for the behavior of the United States military is asinine.
While 24 sparked debates about ethics in interrogation, Sutherland moved beyond his on-screen persona, exploring his passion for music. Encouraged by his friend Jude Cole, he launched Ironworks, an indie record label, and released his debut album, Down in a Hole, in 2016.
Despite the controversy, 24 remains one of television’s most influential series, shaping the landscape of action-packed storytelling.
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