Celebrities Rally Near Disney Headquarters as Strikes Continue to Impact Hollywood

SAG-AFTRA and the Writers Guild of America are on strike. At this time, Hollywood is at a standstill until the unions are able to reach an agreement with top executives.

One of Hollywood’s most prominent executives, Disney CEO Bob Iger, found himself in the spotlight recently following some highly criticized comments about the possibility of a strike. When asked about the potential for actors to go on strike, Iger said that the idea was “disturbing” to him and that the writers and actors had some expectations that were “unrealistic.”

Once the strike began, Iger explained, “Nothing is more important to this company than its relationships with the creative community,” and added, “I have a deep respect for all those who are vital to the creative engine. It is my fervent hope that we quickly find solutions.”

Iger further explained during a recent earnings call that he is “personally committed to working to achieve this result,” though SAG-AFTRA and the Writers Guild of America have yet to come to an agreement.

More recently, on National Day of Solidarity (August 22nd), over 3,000 union members assembled near Walt Disney Company’s Burbank headquarters in support of the strike, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Kerry Washington, who played Olivia Pope in ABC’s Scandal, gave a speech in solidarity.

#KerryWashington gives a speech at the SAG-AFTRA strike near Disney Studios on National Day of Solidarity. “It’s not okay for other people to benefit while we do the hard work,” said Washington. #SAGAFTRAStrike pic.twitter.com/lEj1ss0JQn

— People (@people) August 23, 2023

Other celebrities, like Martin Sheen and Ron Perlman, were reportedly in attendance as well. The National Day of Solidarity event took place on the 40th day of the SAG-AFTRA strike and the 113th day of the Writers Guild of America walkout.

Currently, the actors, writers, and studios have been unable to reach an agreement. The Los Angeles Times stated that “The studios and actors are far apart on issues, including higher pay for streaming shows and protections related to artificial intelligence.” None of the Disney actors attended the premiere of the new Haunted Mansion movie and have remained silent on the new film.

While actors are demanding adequate residuals and a portion of streaming revenue from shows, writers are demanding minimum staffing of writers’ rooms to ensure scribes have appropriate opportunities to work. These demands have not been met by the top studios.

We will continue to look out for updates on the ongoing strike. In the meantime, we’re always on the lookout for the latest Disney news, so stay tuned for more.

Disney CEO Bob Iger Comments on Strikes That Have Brought Hollywood to a Halt

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