I am obsessed with going to the theater. My boyfriend and I always pick out which movies we want to go see on the big screen and keep up to date on the latest trending shows with our egregious amount of streaming subscriptions. However, the Hollywood atmosphere has been interesting this year because of the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes, and seeing which actors are on strike right now is wild. Big names have walked out of premieres and my feed has been flooded with support for the striking workers, rather than the usual obsession over press tours or new releases.
If you’re wondering how much of a big deal these strikes really are, I’ll give you an example: One of my favorite shows is Lost. And it’s a bit older, so let me explain — Lost was the absolute best show airing at the time. Then the 2007 Writers Guild Strike struck. The intricate writing, carefully planned plot points and breathtaking twists all disappeared from the once-beloved show. The new “writers” fumbled the ending to the show so badly that I believe Lost was the biggest fatality that came from the picketing. And I wouldn’t have it any other way. I’m proud of the original writers for running my favorite show, and standing up for the value of their work.
The Writers Guild of America (WGA) would’ve come back to save the show if producers, represented by the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), listened to their concerns and gave them payment proportional to the work they put in. This fiasco happened nearly 20 years ago and threw a wrench in a ton of major productions: Breaking Bad, 30 Rock, Family Guy. Now, it’s happening again. And the issue remains the same.
The WGA demands fair compensation from the AMPTP. The residuals some actors and writers are getting from hit Netflix shows, like Orange Is The New Black, are literal change. Household names can’t pay rent with their paychecks and the AMPTP, made up of the richest and largest film corporations, certainly can do better.
At the end of June, for the first time since 1960, The Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) joined the WGA in striking and essentially bringing Hollywood to a halt. The actors and writers together are a powerful force to be reckoned with and chances are your fave is walking the picket lines. Here are just a handful of the big names who stand with the WGA and SAG-AFTRA.
- Pete Davidson
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Ari’s former beau handed out pizza to protestors even after his SNL hosting gig was canceled due to the picketing.
- Cillian Murphy
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Murphy is just one of the Oppenheimer cast members to walk out of their own premiere to support the strike.
- Matt Damon
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Damon joined Murphy in walking out of his own premiere.
- Florence Pugh
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And Miss Flo was right behind them.
- Emily Blunt
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Don’t forget Blunt! She’s Murphy’s leading lady in Oppenheimer.
- Pedro Pascal
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You already know Pascal won’t be caught on the wrong side of history. He gave a statement in support on behalf of himself and the writers who worked on The Last Of Us.
- Aubrey Plaza
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Plaza graced the SAG-AFTRA TikTok to voice her support.
- Jennifer Lawrence
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Lawrence was one of the 300+ A-list actors to sign a letter threatening a SAG-AFTRA strike if Hollywood didn’t listen to WGA demands.
- Keke Palmer
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Palmer shared her support on Twitter.
- Margot Robbie
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Barbie herself has taken time off from promoting the movie to support the strike. Hot girls picket.
- Ryan Gosling
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It’s Barbie and it’s Ken. And both of them want their coworkers to be paid fairly.
- Daniel Radcliffe
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Harry Potter brought his baby wizard to walk the picket line with him. It’s the first time I’ve gotten a look at his newborn and I’m obsessed.
- America Ferrera
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When she’s not giving the mid-movie monologue in Barbie and making us cry, she’s walking the picket lines.
- Nina Dobrev
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The Vampire Diaries star is still kicking and making her voice heard in Hollywood.
- Jeremy Allen White
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The Bear actor knows every second counts and people deserve to be paid for them.
- Ayo Edebiri
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Chef Sydney agrees with her co-star White.
- Lin-Manuel Miranda
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Triple-threat Miranda made good on his threat to strike.
- Drew Barrymore
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Barrymore pulled out of hosting the MTV Awards to show her solidarity with strikers.
- Joey King
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The Kissing Booth protagonist took to the streets.
- Auli’i Cravalho
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When you have a real life Disney princess telling you to get it together…it’s time to listen up.
- Mandy Moore
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Moore also made an appearance on the SAG-AFTRA TikTok.
- Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson
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The Rock gave a historic seven-figure donation to help striking actors.
- Robert Downey Jr.
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Yes, RDJ also left the Oppenheimer premiere in support of the strike.
- Rami Malek
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Malek was among the A-List actors to sign that uniting letter.
- Leonardo DiCaprio
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He might’ve not weighed in on the Titanic submersible incident, but the SAG-AFTRA strike has him talking: He’s urging people to support workers.
- Lupita Nyong’o
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The Queen of the Oscars looks stunning even as she’s protesting in 100 degree heat.
- Mark Ruffalo
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Ruffalo showed his support on Twitter.
- Quinta Brunson
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The queen of Abbott Elementary and a piece of all our childhoods won’t stand for mistreatment of writers and actors (and she’s both).
- Allison Janney
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The I, Tonya and Juno actress has a thing or two to say about how Hollywood treats workers.
- Hugh Jackman
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Deadpool 3? Nope. These actors aren’t crossing the picket line.
- Ryan Reynolds
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Deadpool supports the unions.
- Brad Pitt
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Pitt stopped production of his film to stand in solidarity.
- George Clooney
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He might be a hunk from your mom’s era but he’s still a hunk in our era as a union man. A silver fox to the max.
- Hilary Duff
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The 2000s it girl called… she wants Hollywood execs to get a grip.
- Kerry Washington
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Washington picketed with the WGA and shared photos on Twitter.
- Brian Cox
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He’s been spreading truth about streaming residuals.
- Jason Sudeikis
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Ted Lasso and Deadpool see eye-to-eye on this issue.
- Seth Meyers
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Following a late night host trend, Meyers is paying writers out of his own pocket while they’re striking.
- Jay Leno
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Like Pitt, Leno has halted production on his film You Bet Your Life to stand with the workers.
- Jennifer Coolidge
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During her acceptance speech at the MTV Movie & TV Awards, Coolidge spoke about how she loves two things: popcorn and her writers.
- Amanda Seyfried
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If you haven’t already seen it, please go check out the iconic video of Seyfried talking about the strike during the Met Gala.
- Mindy Kaling
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Kaling also skipped a premiere to show support.
- Mark Hamill
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Luke Skywalker says not supporting the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strike is Sith behavior.
- John Mulaney
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Mulaney, true to character, talked about the strike while doing a bit on Hot Ones.
- Paget Brewster
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The Criminal Minds gang met up at the picket line.
- Felicia Day
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#WGAsolidarity.
- Bob Odenkirk
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Another one from the SAG-AFTRA TikTok.
- Tina Fey
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The SNL and 30 Rock alum walked the picket line with the new generation of actors.
- Meryl Streep
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Yet another A-List actor who signed the letter calling for actors to strike if necessary.
- Jamie Lee Curtis
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The Bear and Freaky Friday legend wants writers to be paid fairly.
Productions have been floundering without the writers and actors that drive them. Deadpool 3, Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning – Part 2, Gladiator 2, and Netflix series like Cobra Kai and the final edition of Stranger Things have all stopped filming. There’s no clear end to the strike in sight. Remember there are real people behind every piece of media you consume, and there’s a reason behind their walk-outs. Stick it to the man, babes.