Hollywood's actors are officially going on strike. Today, the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) announced a strike, after talks broke down with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP). The news comes two months after the Writers Guild of America (WGA) went on strike on May 2, marking the first time that actors and writers have gone on simultaneous strikes since 1960. Hollywood is expected to effectively shut down until the two unions reach a fair agreement with the AMPTP, which represents the major studios and streaming services.
"What’s happening to us is happening across all fields of labor," SAG-AFTRA president Fran Drescher said in press conference on Thursday announcing the strike. "When employers make Wall Street and greed their priority, and they forget about the essential contributors that make the machine run, we have a problem, and we are experiencing that right at this moment.... The gravity of this move is not lost on me or our negotiating committee, or our board members, who have voted unanimously to proceed with a strike. It’s a very serious thing that impacts thousands if not millions of people all across this country and around the world."
Last month, more than 300 SAG-AFTRA members—including Meryl Streep, Jennifer Lawrence, Rami Malek, Quinta Brunson, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Amy Schumer, and Amy Poehler—signed off on a letter to the union's negotiating committee, urging the reps not to settle for a deal that doesn’t represent all of their demands. In addition to halting work on scripted films and TV series, actors will also not be permitted to promote their film and television work via premieres, interviews, or their social media accounts for the duration of the strike.
Ahead of the strike, several celebrities shared their support while attending the last film premieres for the near future. During Wednesday night's London premiere of Barbie, Margot Robbie told Sky News that she’s “absolutely” in support of a SAG-AFTRA strike. "I very much am in support of all the unions, and I’m a part of SAG, so I would absolutely stand by them," she added.
Earlier today, the highly-anticipated film Oppenheimer held its U.K. premiere; the film's stars, including Cillian Murphy, Matt Damon, Emily Blunt, and Florence Pugh, left the event early. In a clip from the premiere, director Christopher Nolan said of their departure: "They are off to write their picket signs for what we believe to be an imminent strike by SAG, joining one of my guilds, the Writers Guild, in the struggle for fair wages for working members of their union."
Following today's announcement, numerous A-listers have shared their support for the strike on social media. See the celebs' posts below, from Margot Robbie to Jamie Lee Curtis to Cynthia Nixon.
Whilst gracing the pink carpet, #Barbie star Margot Robbie said she supports the actors' strike and all the unions, and would be prepared to join the picket lines.Read more here 👉 https://t.co/MS3m64fLxv pic.twitter.com/66K551IwQcJuly 13, 2023
Emily Blunt on the current Hollywood labor strikes: “I hope everyone makes a fair deal...”#Oppenheimer pic.twitter.com/vQSAMl37XBJuly 13, 2023
Matt Damon talks about the potential actors' strike while at the "Oppenheimer" photocall in London. pic.twitter.com/sFzy77PKPNJuly 12, 2023
The @sagaftra strike has at last arrived. I am proud to be standing tall with the @WGAWest and @WGAEast as actors and writers together demand a fair share of the record-breaking profits the studios have been reaping from our labor for far too long. We will win this! ✊🏻🔥🔥🔥✊🏻July 13, 2023
“We’re fighting for our art. We’re fighting for what we love, and what we know people love," @thesherylralph tells @THR. "We’re people, and we want to enjoy what we do, and we want to make a living at it. That’s what this is about.” #SAGAFTRAstrong #1u https://t.co/I2dBIYOH8aJuly 13, 2023
Let’s go #SAGAFTRA #UnionStrong https://t.co/Ab03iQ8Q7JJuly 13, 2023
“I urge us striking at the same time as the writers to change the awful inequity of money and power in film and television. I remember when we went on strike in 1960, the only time writers and actors struck at the same time. That strike got us film residual checks. A monumental…July 10, 2023
Sending love to all my fellow actors and writers. Praying that this is resolved swiftly and we all come out feeling empowered! Families have to be fed but people have to and deserved be respected for their work as well. 💪🏾July 13, 2023
As this industry is bravely striking, many members are in financial free fall-Please consider giving here:https://t.co/NAldeo1LdlJuly 13, 2023
The AMPTP refused to make a fair deal on television, theatrical and streaming work. We are not afraid of a fight and we will not back down. My union, SAG/AFTRA is now on strike. #SAGAFTRAstrong #SAGAFTRAstrike pic.twitter.com/3yx7Q4oMUMJuly 14, 2023
As a member of both @sagaftra and @WGAEast, I stand in solidarity with my fellow striking union members. We demand what is fair: adequate compensation and creative protections. Streaming revolutionized our industry and has changed the game. As a vital part of the creative process…July 14, 2023
Sweet Jesus.You bet your ASS we’re on strike. #UnionStrong https://t.co/0rVwc3uBA0July 13, 2023
For years, I survived off of residuals while trying to make it as a working actor. This business continues to evolve and actors’ livelihoods should be protected every step of the way. I stand in solidarity with my fellow artists.#SAGAFTRAstrong https://t.co/mVDDm6QrNPJuly 13, 2023
The greed is almost a legendary comic trope - one fun fact - when I was a youngin- I did a film (with a boom box ) and somehow I got points - net not gross. Never expected to see any money - but the film became quite famous - so about 10 years ago - I looked again at… https://t.co/ad1FX7oCNaJuly 14, 2023
We stand in solidarity… @sagaftra @frandrescher pic.twitter.com/fbTmaB8qUkJuly 14, 2023
