By Mark Gray
2:30am PDT, Jul 17, 2023
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For the first time since 1980, SAG-AFTRA, the union representing Hollywood actors and performers, has voted to go on strike against major studios. It's the first time since 1960 that both the actors and writers have been on strike at the same time. The SAG strike will effectively shut down all films and scripted TV shows, with the exception of soap operas, which fall under a separate contract. The strike wasn't a surprise, as it's been suspected for weeks. On June 5, guild members voted 98% in favor of authorizing a strike if a fair deal couldn't be reached, Deadline reported. Amid the walkout, many actors sounded off via social media or on pre-strike red carpets. Jamie Lee Curtis changed her Instagram profile photo to say "SAG-AFTRA STRONG." She always wrote, "Union contracts PROTECT our SAFETY and EXPLOITATION! We are UNION STRONG!" In a separate post, she said, "Sometimes you just have to fight for what you deserve. The writers are the life of the film. Without them you have AI computerized with no personality, no humor, no touching the heart with a moment. Stay strong."
Click through to see how other A-listers are reacting to the strike…
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"This is a painful chapter in the lives of artists everywhere. Most actors & creatives don't make millions. Many who make magic on-screen struggle to make ends meet. It's easy to take this for granted at the top. We can't have art w/o a sustainable future for artists. #SAGAFTRA" –Lynda Carter
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"Obviously we stand we all of the actors and at whatever point it's called, we're going to be going home and standing together through it because I want everyone to get a fair deal." —Emily Blunt, via Variety
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"We gave the strike authorization. We voted 98% to 2% to do that because we know our leadership has our best interest at heart. It's really about working actors. It's $26,000 to qualify for health coverage and a lot of people are on the margins and residual payments are getting them across that threshold. This isn't an academic exercise. This is real life and death stuff. Hopefully we get to a resolution quickly. No one wants a work stoppage, but we've got to get a fair deal." —Matt Damon, via Variety. He told Deadline, "If our leadership is saying that the deal isn't fair then we gotta hold strong…It's the difference between having healthcare & not for a lot of actors & we gotta do what's right by them."
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"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" –Jessica Chastain
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"Actors and writers in large numbers have lost their ability to make a living. This is an inflection point in our industry. For our industry to survive that has to change. For actors, that journey starts now." –George Clooney via Deadline
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"I'm very much in support of all the unions and I'm apart of SAG, so I would absolutely stand by that." Margot Robbie, via Sky News
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"The eyes of the world and, particularly, the eyes of labor are upon us. What happens to us is important. What's happening to us is happening across all fields of labor. When employers make Wall Street and greed their priority and they forget about the essential contributors who make the machine run, we have a problem. This is a very seminal hour for us. I went in thinking that we would be able to avert a strike. The gravity of this move is not lost on me. It's a very serious thing that impacts thousands, if not millions of people all across this country and around the world. Not only members of this union, but people who work in other industries that service the people that work in this industry. We had no choice. We are the victims here. We are being victimized by a very greedy entity" –SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher
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"I stand with my fellow #SAGAFTRAMembers during the #SAGStrike alongside the #WGA in their fight. And I support the many skilled unionized workers across all industries that deserve fair compensation. We cannot do it without each other." –Octavia Spencer
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"It's been a really, really tense few days for a lot of people, not just actors, but everybody in the industry who are going to be affected by this decision, but affected by a decision that is necessary." – Florence Pugh
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"Yeah, it's a very strange time and we're very uncharted and I don't know what to expect, but I feel proud to stand in solidarity with my fellow film community, like my second family. I love this community so much and I love the support within this community and I'm hoping for a resolution soon. I think of course there's concern. There's people that aren't able to work at the moment who need to be working. I don't think it would be good to put all these screenwriters and actors out of jobs for very long." —Riley Keough, via Vanity Fair
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"Those in the executive suites are getting bigger and bigger salaries than ever, but actors are getting less and less, just like the writers. They better watch out. If the actors go out with the writers, this industry will be shut down. And we will stand together and hold firm until we all get justice , fairness, and respect." –Jane Fonda
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"It's important and necessary that we all stick together, but it's also heartbreaking and creates a lot of complicated feelings because you worked so hard with so many other people — not just yourself — to create this and this is your time to celebrate it," —Jamie Lynn Spears
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"The strike is what we're all talking about at the moment. I am one of the very, very lucky and rare actors that has a strong position to negotiate from when I work. That is not the experience of most people, and I do think both the actors and writers who are currently striking, nobody wants these things to happen—but I think they're incredibly necessary for the way the industry is going. Technology has changed so much about the industry in the last 10 years, it feels like it's absolutely time. There will need to be a recalibration in order for everybody to work still, to be able to attract great people to the industry, great writers and great actors. And also along with all the AI stuff, which also—that feels very important right now. We are probably one of the first industries that's going to have a say in how this stuff affects us. It's going to be probably the first of many that will have some version of this conversation. I think it's very important that we do take a stand on that." –Daniel Radcliffe via Vanity Fair
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"Sweet Jesus.You bet your A** we're on strike. #UnionStrong" —Patton Oswalt
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"Ok… SAG-AFTRA just officially went on strike… Thats ME. This is some real BLACK MIRROR type s***.. Wow." –Ice-T
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"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!" –Cynthia Nixon
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"We stand in solidarity… @sagaftra @frandrescher" –Kim Cattrall
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"Strikes are very difficult. Nobody wants to be in strike mode, but sometimes you have got to do what needs to be done. And I know as difficult as it is, people have to remember if real workers did not come together and organize, none of us would have a weekend. Because there was a time where workers worked seven days a week and it was unheard-of for them to get time off. So I just want everybody to understand that this isn't about making more millions of dollars, because quiet as it's kept, at least 80% of our union are plain old, ordinary, hardworking people who haven't gotten a cost of living raise in 40 years, who are depending upon the kindness of big corporations, many of whom sometimes don't really know what it is to be an artist. God bless them, you need people who can crunch numbers, but when it starts to crunch people, that's not good. That is not good. And there's something that must be changed about how business is done in show business in Hollywood, because the artists, the performers, the writers, are getting squeezed and it's not right." –Sheryl Lee Ralph, via Vanity Fair
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"It's official @sagaftra has voted to strike. We will be joining the WGA on the picket lines starting tomorrow. We all got together last week to create our signs. I was on sticks! When you're out there without a splinter thanks to the duct tape, think of ya girl! #UnionStrong" –Yvette Nicole Brown
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"Just as it is for the writers, it's an important thing; important issues to be dealt with, AI, all those issues. And compensation, with the streamers, I honestly don't understand all of it, but I realize how important it is for everyone trying to make a living. So yes, I'm in full support." –Nathan Lane, via Vanity Fair
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"The LA styrofoam and cardboard industry is about to have an even busier summer. Let's do this thing. #SAGAFTRAstrong" –Josh Gad
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"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." –Keke Palmer
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"I hope as everyone does that it resolves itself quickly. But it's such a critical time in our industry. The implications of what's happening with that agreement go way beyond SAG-AFTRA. It's an existential moment in our industry. I'm in solidarity with SAG, being a member for over 33 years. They are doing the best they can and I think it's the way to go" –Kenneth Branagh via Deadline
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"I put my faith in God, not men, because powerful men are often greedy and they run these big companies, and you can't really rely on them to look out for you. I'm hoping that the heart of the streamers and studios is a little more George Bailey and a little less Mr. Potter. I really hope the union flexes its muscles 'cause we are incredibly strong, especially with our siblings at the WGA." –Paul Walter Hauser, via Vanity Fair
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"Let's go #SAGAFTRA #UnionStrong" –Jame Cromwell
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"Wow. Having writers and actors both out of work will affect so many families behind the scenes, many who live paycheck to paycheck. #SAGAFTRA" –Maria Shriver
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"It ain't gonna be cute when then producers start getting replaced because, no disrespect, directors, actors, writers, we could do what the producers do. That's a fact. Directors, writers, actors, we could do what the producers do. But producers can't do what we do. That's a f***** fact. Strike! We're going on strike!"
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"Actors! Drop your sides and back away from the set! We are officially on strike! #Solidarity #SAGstrike #Fairwages" —Jennifer Tilly
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"Sag strike reality – yes stars get paid – but stars do nothing alone cause it ain't standup. actors on massive hit tv shows – who are really recurring characters – are allowed to be slotted in as guest stars – So an actress on a number 1 hit show in television – are offered 4 grand an episode – as " guest stars " for 4 6 8 or more for episodes that means after taxes agents lawyer – maybe managers – they will be lucky to take home 1200 1400 dollars – maybe ? And the business tells them – you better take the job – cause we can get thousands of other actresses to take the job – who will be grateful for the " exposure " Truth – it's disgusting treatment – 100 % unfair – when they are making hundreds of millions a year – on the show – why be so cruel and cheap ? They do it because they can . And women are allowed to be grossly underpaid compared to the men in the same films or shows – why ? Cause they can." –John Cusack
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"It's very disturbing to me. There's a level of expectation that they have that is just not realistic and they are adding to a set of challenges that this business is already facing that is quite frankly very disruptive and dangerous. I understand any labor organization's desire to work on the behalf of its members — to get, you know, the most compensation and to be compensated fairly based on the value that they deliver. But you also have to be realistic about the business environment and what this business can deliver." –Bob Iger, Disney CEO
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"If we must strike… THEN WE SHALL STRIIIIIIIIKEEEEEEEEE!!!!! #SAGAFTRA" –Jack Quaid
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"Holy Cow. Go Fran Go! This was a powerful statement. I stand with Fran and everyone in SAG and WGA in this extended moment…onwards" –Bob Odenkirk
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"Just watched the press conference today regarding the @sagaftra strike. I have been a Sag/Aftra member since 1990. I was 5 years old when I joined. I am so grateful to be a part of a union that pushes to protect the future of performers. We need it more than ever right now! While no one wants to strike, the decision to do so was not taken lightly. It will affect so many people, and I hope there is a resolve soon. In the meantime, I stand in solidarity with all of my peers. #unionstrong." –Odette Annable
