Stars are coming together to share support for the Screen Actors Guild-SAG-AFTRA strike, which officially began on July 14 following ongoing negotiations with the Federation of Television and Radio Artists of America (SAG-AFTRA). Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) fail. News of the actors’ strike came just over two months after the Writers Guild of America (WGA) labor union announced a writers’ strike on May 2, which was also supported by celebrities.
The actors’ strike has been brewing since SAG-AFTRA began talks with representatives in June, aimed at securing better wages and working conditions as well as protections against artificial intelligence, according to CNBC. As a result of the strike, actors who are part of the union are not allowed to promote their old, current, or upcoming projects. Meanwhile, the writers’ strike had been brewing for months after the WGA and AMPTP failed to reach an agreement on their next three-year contract, largely over a dispute over writers’ compensation. As a result, all WGA members pledged not to write or sell new scripts for TV shows or movies until the union voted to end the strike.
Since the writers’ and actors’ strikes began, some of the biggest names in Hollywood have spoken out in support and solidarity. Everyone from Margot Robbie and Cillian Murphy to Keke Palmer and Matt Damon have expressed support for the actors’ strike, which SAG-AFTRA union president Fran Drescher said on July 13 was due to actors being “on the victim of a very greedy entity,” per. The AV club. Drescher said, “I’m amazed at how the people we’ve been dealing with have been treating us.
Drescher went on to highlight the importance of the strike as artificial intelligence advances. “We are all going to be at risk of being replaced by machines and big business, who care more about Wall Street than you and your family,” she said at a press conference. “No more than Most Americans have $500 in an emergency. This is a big deal and it was heavy on us. But at some point, you have to say, ‘No, we’re not going to take this anymore. . You guys are crazy. What are you doing? Why are you doing this?”
Actors join a number of stars who have already shown support for the writers’ strike. On June 15, Tina Fey, Sara Bareilles, and Lin-Manuel Miranda stepped out at a rally in Times Square in New York City to stand in solidarity with the incredible writers. Then on June 25, singer-songwriter Muni Long publicly expressed support for the strike at the 2023 BET Awards.
Previously, celebrities such as Colin Farrell and Pete Davidson supported the writers’ strike by stopping by the WGA picket lines in May. Drew Barrymore also showed her support by pulling out of his 2023 MTV Movie & TV concert in solidarity with the writers, her rep confirmed to POPSUGAR on May 4.
“I have listened to the writers, and to show them the utmost respect, I will be moving on from hosting the MTV Movie & TV Awards live in solidarity with the strike,” Barrymore said in a statement. the statement. “Everything we celebrate and respect about movies and television has come out of their creation. And until a solution is found, I choose to wait.”
Ahead of the writers’ strike, many of the stars who attended this year’s Met Gala on May 1 spoke to Variety about their thoughts on, with Brian Tyree Henry says“I just hope everyone is treated equally. I hope they get what they deserve and I hope people listen to them. People clap for reason.” Amanda Seyfried also spoke to the outlet on the red carpet and said, “I don’t get what the problem is,” saying the strike is “necessary.” “Everything changed with flow and it should be everyone to be compensated for their work. It’s easy enough.”
Elsewhere, TV creators like “Abbott Elementary” star Quinta Brunson to AP News“I’m a member of the WGA and I support the WGA, and they get – we, we – get what we need.”
Since the writers’ and actors’ strikes began, many TV shows and movies have been forced to shut down production (ie, filming and airing new episodes), including “Saturday Night Live,” which canceled an episode that was scheduled to be held by. show Davidson alum. On May 3, “SNL” star Bowen Yang, who joined the strike, told The Hollywood Reporter about the sketch comedy show, “I’m very disappointed. We had a few good shows left, I thought. We all came back for rest and relaxation. ready for work on Monday.” He said, “Pete was delighted to host it, even though he knew there was a big star on the week, and it looked like it wasn’t going to happen. I think we were all ready to give it up for the three weeks before the season ended.”
Other celebrities who have shared their support for the actors’ and writers’ strikes include Billy Porter, Jeremy Allen White, Jennifer Garner, Daniel Radcliffe, Lupita Nyong’o, Auli’i Cravalho, Hilary Duff, George Clooney, Brian Cox, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Kerry Washington, Jason Sudeikis, America Ferrera, Gina Prince-Bythewood, Mark Ruffalo, Mariska Hargitay, Lisa Ann Walter, Ayo Edebiri, and many others. Scroll on to see which other stars are supporting the strikes.
