The secret group for conservatives in Hollywood called Friends of Abe has notified members its organization is coming to an end, at least the way it stands now. And some say it’s because of internal fighting over Donald Trump.
On Thursday the announcement came as a shock to many of its members. A report in The Guardian says “the organization – which counts Jon Voight, Jerry Bruckheimer and Kelsey Grammer among its 1,500 members – made an abrupt announcement: it was dissolving.”
“Effective immediately, we are going to begin to wind down the 501 c3 organization, bring the sustaining membership dues to an end, and do away with the costly infrastructure and the abespal.com website,” the guardian reported.
It goes on to say that “the announcement caught members by surprise and fueled speculation that infighting over Donald Trump’s candidacy, among other factors, had drained commitment. Others said the group had been losing steam for years.”
“Today, because we have been successful in creating a community that extends far beyond our events, people just don’t feel as much of a need to show up for every speaker or bar night, and fewer people pay the dues that help us maintain that large infrastructure,” the publication reported.
In a place known for its liberal views members say that the FOA was a place celebrities who had right-leaning views could go and hear speakers and meet others who had similar beliefs.
According to the report, past members of the FOA included, “Patricia Heaton, Clint Eastwood, and Gary Sinise.”