PASADENA, Calif. — Comic Tina Fey says Wednesday's attack on a French newspaper and the Sony hacking surrounding the movie "The Interview" is a reminder of the importance of free speech.

Fey said: "Even if it's just dumb jokes in 'The Interview,' we have the right to make them."

The former "30 Rock" and "Saturday Night Live" star had been asked by reporters at a television conference to comment on Wednesday's attack, where masked gunmen killed 12 people at a French satirical newspaper.

She said it was a reminder of the importance of free speech. "You cannot back down," she said.