Stephen Amell doesn’t support ongoing strikes

Actor Stephen Amell, best known for his starring role in Arrow, supports his union, however, he does not support the ongoing strikes. He is one of the first actors to not show support for the strike within Hollywood.

Taking to GalaxyCon (via Hollywood Reporter), the Heels actor explained that he sees striking as a “reductive negotiating tactic” and labels it “myopic.”

SAG-AFTRA is associated with over 160K actors, so it’s no surprise that some aren’t so happy with the strike, especially as some have major projects that are now on pause, delayed, or are on time but going to lack any sort of sufficient press tour thanks to the picket lines.

“I feel like I’m insulated in Hollywood because that’s where I live. I feel like a lot of people in this room aren’t aware of the strike. I support my union, I do, and I stand with them but I do not support striking. I don’t. I think that it is a reductive negotiating tactic, and I find the entire thing incredibly frustrating. I think that the thinking as it pertains to shows — like this show that I’m on that premiered last night — I think it is myopic, and I stand with my union.”

The SAG-AFTRA strike took full effect on July 14 after the existing contract expired and updated contract negotiations didn’t occur fast enough with the AMPTP. Largely, the changes SAG was trying to make included tighter limits on artificial intelligence and upping streaming residuals, as streaming has become such a massive part of not just American households but households worldwide.

Even so, contracts weren’t as focused on that aspect as before the pandemic, theaters were still a large part of the movie experience, but with big studios shifting gears to offering full films and TV shows on streaming services, it’s not as lucrative for the actor and as such not up-to-date on how the industry could pay.