Celebrities Supporting 2023 Writers’ and Actors’ Strikes

Stars are coming collectively to share help for the Screen Actors Guild — American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA)’s strike, which formally commenced on July 14 after ongoing negotiations with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) failed. News of the actors’ strike got here a bit over two months after the Writers Guild of America’s labor union declared a writers’ strike on May 2, which celebrities additionally confirmed help for.

The actors’ strike had been brewing since SAG-AFTRA headed into negotiations with producers in June, aiming to safe higher wages and working circumstances in addition to protections towards synthetic intelligence, per CNBC. Due to the strike, actors who’re a part of the union are usually not allowed to advertise their previous, present, or upcoming onscreen tasks. The writers’ strike, in the meantime, loomed for months after the WGA and AMPTP failed to achieve an settlement on their subsequent three-year contract, largely over disputes of compensation for writers. As a consequence, all members of the WGA vowed to not write or promote new scripts for TV reveals or films till the union votes to finish the strike.

Since the writers’ and actors’ strikes started, a few of Hollywood’s largest names have spoken out in help and solidarity. Everyone from Margot Robbie and Cillian Murphy to Keke Palmer and Matt Damon have all voiced help for the actors’ strike, which SAG-AFTRA union president Fran Drescher mentioned on July 13 is the results of actors being “victimized by a very greedy entity,” including that she is “shocked by the way that the people we have been in business with are treating us.”

Drescher went on to spotlight the crucial significance of the strike as synthetic intelligence ramps up. “. . . We are all going to be in jeopardy of being replaced by machines and big business, who cares more about Wall Street than you and your family,” she mentioned in a press convention. “Most Americans don’t have more than $500 in an emergency. This is a very big deal, and it weighed heavy on us. But at some point, you have to say, ‘No, we’re not going to take this anymore. You people are crazy! What are you doing? Why are you doing this?'”

Actors be part of quite a few stars who’ve already proven help for the writers’ strike. On June 15, Tina Fey, Sara Bareilles, and Lin-Manuel Miranda stepped out at a rally in New York City’s Times Square to face in solidarity with the hanging writers. Then on June 25, singer-songwriter Muni Long expressed her public help of the strike in the course of the 2023 BET Awards.

Previously, celebrities like Colin Farrell and Pete Davidson supported the writers’ strike by stopping by WGA picket traces in May. Drew Barrymore additionally confirmed her help by pulling out of her 2023 MTV Movie & TV Awards internet hosting gig in solidarity with the writers, her rep confirmed to POPSUGAR on May 4.

“I have listened to the writers, and in order to truly respect them, I will pivot from hosting the MTV Movie & TV Awards live in solidarity with the strike,” Barrymore mentioned in a press release. “Everything we celebrate and honor about movies and television is born out of their creation. And until a solution is reached, I am choosing to wait.”

Ahead of the writers’ strike, many stars who attended this yr’s Met Gala on May 1 spoke to Variety about their ideas on it, with Brian Tyree Henry saying, “I just hope that everyone is treated equally. I hope they get what they deserve and I hope people listen to them. People strike for a reason.” Amanda Seyfried also spoke to the outlet on the crimson carpet and mentioned, “I don’t get what the problem is,” including that the strike is “necessary.” “Everything changed with streaming and everyone should be compensated for their work. It’s f*cking easy.”

Elsewhere, TV creators like “Abbott Elementary” star Quinta Brunson told AP News, “I’m a member of WGA and support WGA, and them getting — we, us — getting what we need.”

Since the writers’ and actors’ strikes kicked off, many TV reveals and films have been compelled to close down manufacturing (i.e., filming and airing new episodes), together with “Saturday Night Live,” which canceled an episode that was to be hosted by present alum Davidson. On May 3, “SNL” star Bowen Yang, who joined the strike, instructed The Hollywood Reporter of the comedy sketch present, “I’m really disappointed. We had a few good shows left, I think. We all came back rested and ready to work on Monday.” He added, “Pete was very excited to host, even though he knew there was a big asterisk on the week, and there was a looming possibility it might not happen. I think we were all ready to give it our all for the next three weeks before the season ended.”

Other celebrities who’ve shared help for the actors’ and writers’ strikes embrace 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 extra. Scroll forward to see which different stars are supporting the strikes.