Matt Damon, Margot Robbie and More Stars Show Support for the SAG-AFTRA Strike

Credit: Anthony Harvey/Shutterstock

Matt Damon, Margot Robbie and More Stars Show Support for the SAG-AFTRA Strike

Members of SAG-AFTRA are showing their support after the labor union failed to reach an agreement with studios over fairer wages, the use of artificial intelligence in media and other issues.

SAG’S president, Fran Drescher, confirmed on Thursday, July 13, that the union, which represents over 160,000 TV and film stars, would be striking alongside the Writer’s Guild of America after meetings with the AMPTP failed to result in a new contract. 

“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,” Drescher stated in a press conference on Thursday, per NBC News. “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.”

The AMPTP, meanwhile, shared in a statement that they are “deeply disappointed that SAG-AFTRA has decided to walk away from negotiations,” adding, “This is the Union’s choice, not ours. In doing so, it has dismissed our offer of historic pay and residual increases, substantially higher caps on pension and health contributions, audition protections, shortened series option periods, a groundbreaking AI proposal that protects actors’ digital likenesses, and more.” 

The statement continued: “Rather than continuing to negotiate, SAG-AFTRA has put us on a course that will deepen the financial hardship for thousands who depend on the industry for their livelihoods. There are 160,000 members of SAG-AFTRA and over 11,000 members of the Writers Guild of America."

SAG’s decision marks the first time the writer's and actor's unions have been on strike simultaneously since 1960. While the WGA’s strike, which began in May, led to certain projects ceasing mid-production, SAG’s addition means all TV and film will immediately go on an indefinite hiatus. Actors will also be unable to promote any of their current or future projects while the strike is in play. 

Keep scrolling to see which actors have shown their support for the SAG-AFTRA strike: 

Credit: Anthony Harvey/Shutterstock

Matt Damon, Margot Robbie and More Stars Show Support for the SAG-AFTRA Strike

Members of SAG-AFTRA are showing their support after the labor union failed to reach an agreement with studios over fairer wages, the use of artificial intelligence in media and other issues.

SAG’S president, Fran Drescher, confirmed on Thursday, July 13, that the union, which represents over 160,000 TV and film stars, would be striking alongside the Writer’s Guild of America after meetings with the AMPTP failed to result in a new contract. 

“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,” Drescher stated in a press conference on Thursday, per NBC News. “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.”

The AMPTP, meanwhile, shared in a statement that they are “deeply disappointed that SAG-AFTRA has decided to walk away from negotiations,” adding, “This is the Union’s choice, not ours. In doing so, it has dismissed our offer of historic pay and residual increases, substantially higher caps on pension and health contributions, audition protections, shortened series option periods, a groundbreaking AI proposal that protects actors’ digital likenesses, and more.” 

The statement continued: “Rather than continuing to negotiate, SAG-AFTRA has put us on a course that will deepen the financial hardship for thousands who depend on the industry for their livelihoods. There are 160,000 members of SAG-AFTRA and over 11,000 members of the Writers Guild of America."

SAG’s decision marks the first time the writer's and actor's unions have been on strike simultaneously since 1960. While the WGA’s strike, which began in May, led to certain projects ceasing mid-production, SAG’s addition means all TV and film will immediately go on an indefinite hiatus. Actors will also be unable to promote any of their current or future projects while the strike is in play. 

Keep scrolling to see which actors have shown their support for the SAG-AFTRA strike: 

Credit: MediaPunch/Shutterstock

Stephen Amell

The Arrow alum raised eyebrows after publicly opposing the strike when asked about the topic during a convention panel in July. "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," he said. "I find the entire thing incredibly frustrating. I think that the thinking as it pertains to shows like [Heels], the show that I'm on that premiered last night, I think it's myopic."

He later clarified his stance in a lengthy Instagram post, writing in part, "In full context: I’m an actor and I was speaking extemporaneously for over an hour. I emote, but I certainly don’t think these issues are simple. Our leadership has an incredibly complicated job and I am grateful for all that they do. Despite some of my terrible early acting work, I assure you, I’m not a robot. From an intellectual perspective, I understand why we are striking, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t emotionally frustrating on many levels for all involved."

Credit: ANDY RAIN/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Oppenheimer Cast

The cast of the biopic walked the red carpet at their London premiere on July 13 but ultimately left the event early after the SAG-AFTRA strike was officially declared. 

“If they call it, we’ll be leaving together as cast in unity with everyone … We are gonna have to,” Emily Blunt told Deadline at the time. “We will see what happens. Right now it’s the joy to be together.”

Christopher Nolan, who directed the film, later confirmed the cast had left due to the “struggle for fair wages.”

Matt Damon, meanwhile, reiterated the importance of the strike while at an event for Oppenheimer one day prior, telling the Associated Press, “What we would be striking for, if we strike, is unbelievably important. We got to protect the people who are kind of on the margins.”

Damon added that “26,000 bucks a year is what you have to make to get your health insurance” and there are many actors who depend on residual payments to “carry them across that threshold. If those residual payments dry up, so does their healthcare, and that's absolutely unacceptable."

Credit: David Fisher/Shutterstock

Issa Rae

"Well, everything is f—ked," Rae quipped via her Instagram Story on July 13.

Credit: Fati Sadou/ABACAPRESS.COM/Shutterstock

Odette Annable

“Just watched the press conference today regarding the @sagaftra strike,” Odette wrong via Instagram on July 13. “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.” 

Credit: Chelsea Lauren/HCA/Shutterstock

Mandy Moore

Moore uploaded a “SAG-AFTRA on Strike” image via Instagram with no caption on July 13. The actress later reposted various articles about the strike via her Instagram Story, including a photo from the WGA East that read, “We will reiterate, together, our solidarity is not to be underestimated.”

Credit: Scott Kirkland/PictureGroup for/Shutterstock

Jamie Lynn Spears

Spears, who stars on season 3 of Sweet Magnolias on Netflix and in Zoey 102 on Paramount+, both of which drop later this month, took to her Instagram to share her complex emotions about the strike. 

“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 but we have come up with that it’s [time to] strike and this is what’s required,” she explained, requesting that fans show their support by tuning into her upcoming projects despite not being able to promote them herself.

Credit: David Fisher/Shutterstock

Margot Robbie

Robbie, who is currently promoting her upcoming film Barbie, told Sky News at the movie’s London premiere on July 12 that she stands with the union. “Absolutely, I very much am in support of all the unions and I am a part of SAG so I absolutely would stand by that,” she said. 

Credit: John Salangsang/Shutterstock

Jamie Lee Curtis

Curtis took to social media on July 13 to post a photo of herself alongside other cast members of The Bear, on which she made a season 2 guest appearance. In the snap, the actor’s faces are covered up by the official SAG-AFTRA symbol. 

“REPRESENTING the EXPRESSIONS. The EMOTIONS. The FEELINGS generated by the WORDS of their UNION MEMBERS!” she captioned the Instagram image. “Union contracts PROTECT our SAFETY and EXPLOITATION! We are UNION STRONG!”

Credit: Domine Jerome/ABACA/Shutterstock

Riley Keough

“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,” Keough told Vanity Fair in July. “I love this community so much and I love the support within this community and I’m hoping for a resolution soon.” 

She continued: “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."