Actors and writers are currently on strike in Hollywood, with the writers’ strike starting in May and the actors’ strike starting on June 13th. As a result, several film projects have been put on hold.
©The Rolling Stone
Disney CEO Bob Iger previously commented about the possibility of an actors’ strike (before the strike was officially called), and he received backlash for his comments, which some deemed to be “out of touch” and “tone-deaf.” As the criticism began to spread, many Disney fans wondered if Iger would change his tune about the strikes. In Disney’s third-quarter earning call, the CEO once again commented on this situation.
During an interview with CNBC earlier this year, Bob Iger was asked about the actor and writer strikes. He commented on how the industry was still trying to recover after the COVID-19 pandemic shut down many productions and said that the idea that strikes would follow and further disrupt those projects was “very disturbing.”
Bob Iger ©New York Post
Iger said, “This is the worst time in the world to add to that disruption.” He did mention he respects the unions’ rights to get more compensation for their people, “but you also have to be realistic about the business environment,” which has been a great business for all these people.
Iger’s words have been turned against him by many people, including actors on the strike lines, Disney fans, and even the SAG-AFTRA President, Fran Drescher. About Bob Iger, Drescher said, “If I were that company, I would lock him behind doors.” She said his comments were “repugnant,” “out of touch,” and “tone-deaf.”
©SAG-AFTRA
Actor Anthony Rapp said, “I don’t think it’s realistic for Bob Iger and other CEOs to make 27, 35, 200 million dollars a year and expect that the labor that allows them to make that kind of money demands fair wages.”
Now, during the company’s third-quarter earnings call, Iger has commented on the situation once again, and he took a very different approach this time.
Iger started by saying, “Nothing is more important to this company than its relationships with the creative community,” including actors and writers. He went on to say, “I have deep respect for all those who are vital to the creative engine.”
He ended his short remarks by saying, “It is my fervent hope that we quickly find solutions. I am personally committed to working to achieve this result.”
©Disney
One of the main issues that both the writers and actors are concerned about is the use of AI in entertainment. In fact, Disney has a specific AI task force designed to evaluate how the company plans to use the technology going forward. Disney has been criticized for their use of AI in the opening credits of Secret Invasion, although the company claimed that “no artists’ jobs were replaced by incorporating these new tools.”
©Disney | Walt Disney Company Headquarters
We’ll have to wait and see what happens with strike negotiations and the use of AI in Disney’s upcoming movies. Stay tuned to DFB for more breaking news from Disney.
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I’d believe what he’s saying about being committed to finding a sloution more if he wasn’t on vacation on a yacht within the past week amd if Fisney wasn’t creating an entirely new division in the company devoted to using AI which is the biggest sticking point for us actors and the writers currently on strike. He’s bringing nothing to the table and doing so in bad faith and I think that’s disgusting.
Right after I finish canceling all the projects.
I guess he didn’t learn from Chapek to just keep your mouth shut when you are the head of a huge company, Disney. And what I mean by that was there was absolutely no reason to make any comment about the strike. You don’t see or hear about CEO’s from ABC, NBC , CBS or FOX making comments that they have to walk back later. I’m starting to think he is the wrong person to have in charge of Disney.