In the recent SAG-AFTRA vote on authorizing a potential strike, an impressive 98% majority of returns signaled guild leadership’s approval to engage in negotiations if required, with about half of the eligible members participating by submitting their ballots. However, actor Stephen Amell revealed that he does not align himself with those in favor of a strike, expressing his dissenting stance over the weekend.
While participating in a Q&A session with fans at Galaxycon in Raleigh, N.C., Stephen Amell openly shared his disagreements regarding the ongoing actors’ strike, which commenced on July 14. However, his comments did not go well with many.
Stephen Amell Doesn’t Support Strikes
Stephen Amell expressed his support for his union during his appearance at the convention, emphasizing that he stands with them. However, he openly stated his lack of support for striking, deeming it a reductive negotiating tactic. The footage of his remarks quickly spread across social media, generating widespread discussions and reactions.
“I support my union, I do. And I stand with them. I do not support striking. I don’t. I think that it is a reductive negotiating tactic,” Amell said. “I find the entire thing incredibly frustrating. I think the thinking as it pertains to shows — like the show that I’m on that premiered last night — I think it’s myopic.”
The second season of Stephen Amell’s professional wrestling series Heels has premiered on Starz. Notably, Amell’s appearance at Galaxycon was not explicitly advertised as a promotional event for Heels, according to the organization’s website. Many fans were left unimpressed with his comments on the strikes, as one of his breakthrough roles, Green Arrow, was showcased as a socialist billionaire in the DC comics, leading people to call out the hypocrisy.
Many Big Stars Missing From The Ongoing Strikes
Amidst the ongoing SAG-AFTRA and Writers Guild of America strike that has a firm grip on Hollywood, one noticeable aspect is the absence of major stars on the ground. Both industry insiders and protesters have observed the “palpable” dearth of headliners during the strike. Although the strike has garnered substantial attention, some well-known SAG-AFTRA members have chosen to remain anonymous when discussing the ongoing situation.
While Meryl Streep, Jennifer Lawrence, Rami Malek, and other notable stars have expressed their support for the strike through a letter, their physical presence at the protests has been conspicuously missing. Even Leonardo DiCaprio, who showed solidarity on Instagram, has not been spotted participating in person at any of the protests. As the strike carries on, the industry is closely watching to see if these A-list actors will eventually join the picket lines.
When the actor’s strike began in July, a protester at Netflix headquarters raised a sign questioning the whereabouts of Ben Affleck with an explicit message. While there have been calls for notable stars to join the front lines of the strike, Affleck’s physical presence at the protests is yet to be witnessed.
Source: Variety
