Major talent agency cancels Oscars party in protest of Donald Trump 'Muslim ban' donating funds to ACLU and holding rally

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A major talent agency has cancelled its annual Academy Awards party in protest of President Donald Trump’s immigration ban.

It will instead donate $250,000 (£200,000) to the American Civil Liberties Union and the International Rescue Committee and hold a rally “to express the creative community’s growing concern with anti-immigrant sentiment in the United States”.

The move comes after an executive order by Mr Trump barred refugees and citizens from seven Muslim-majority nations from entering the US.

A federal appeals court on Thursday refused to reinstate the ban, which had been locked by a judge in Washington on Sunday.

The United Talent Agency (UTA) said the demonstration, set to take place two days before the Oscars, will oppose a “potential chilling effect on the global exchange of ideas and freedom of expression” prompted by anti-immigrant sentiment.

“This is a moment that demands our generosity, awareness and restlessness,” UTA chief executive Jeremy Zimmer in a letter to agency employees.

“Our world is a better place for the free exchange of artists, ideas and creative expression.

"If our nation ceases to be the place where artists the world over can come to express themselves freely, then we cease, in my opinion, to be America.”

The UTA represents hundreds of celebrities including Angelina Jolie, Harrison Ford and Amy Schumer.

Academy award-winning Iranian director Asghar Farhadi is also a client of the agency.

Mr Farhardi, who is again nominated for an Oscar, has said he will boycott the ceremony in response to the "unjust" travel ban.

The UTA said the Tehran-based director said he felt "honoured and in tears" when he heard about the UTA's decision.

Another talent agency WME-IMG, has also voiced concern about an apparent growth in anti-immigrant sentiment, saying it was forming a national political action committee.

In a memo to employees seen by Reuters it said it planned to develop "actionable public policy solutions", connecting clients with politicians, and support donations made by employees.

It added "this company’s greatest asset is the diversity of our backgrounds and beliefs.

"Please know that we will do everything in our power to support and protect this diversity now and in the months and years ahead."

On Friday Mr Trump reacted angrily on Twitter to the federal court's decision not to reinstate the immigration ban, promising to fight the verdict.