SAG-AFTRA has joined the WGA in the first dual strike from the two unions in more than six decades.
Chicago actors from The Bear, The Chi, Chicago Fire, P.D., and Med, Justified: City Primeval, and Somebody Somewhere speak out on social media to respond in solidarity in support of the strike.
Here’s what Chicago actors are saying about the writers and actors strike of 2023:
The Bear
The Bear’s Jeremy Allen White, who plays Carmen “Carmy” Berzatto mentioned the actor’s strike when he was talking to Deadline about his Emmy nominations for The Bear and said,
“I’m in a very privileged position where I’ve been on television for the last 12 years, and I don’t have to work for the rest of the year and I’ll be okay. But this industry is massive,” White said. “If the content slows down, and we’re not making stuff, so many people are out of work. I don’t know. I’m not very well informed, but it seems so simple to me. We need to pay these people. This is a massive industry. It makes a lot of money, and that wealth should be shared.”
Ayo Edebiri who plays Sydney Adamu on The Bear hasn’t made any public statements about the Writers or Actors Guild strikes, but actions speak louder than words and she was seen picketing shortly after the Writers Guild strike began.
Chicago Med
Chicago Med’s S. Epatha Merkerson has shown solidarity to her fellow actors by sharing a post on her official instagram with no caption:
She had previously posted when the strike authorization had been approved, also with no caption:
Kristen Hager, who played Dr. Stevie Hammer also showed her solidarity in an Instagram post showing her location at Warner Bros picketing with writers and actors:
Steven Weber, who plays Dr. Dean Archer has been using his position to amplify the voices of others and has really done an excellent job sharing the “why” of it all to the general public with his Instagram posts and stories.
Nick Gehlfuss, who we know as Dr. Will Halstead, was seen picketing back in May to support the WGA strike:
Chicago P.D.
Marina Squerciati, who plays Kim Burgess has kept her comments to herself, but has taken a very public stance by changing her official Instagram profile photo to reflect the SAG-AFTRA Strong strike logo.
Jesse Lee Soffer, who plays Jay Halstead shared a photo of his own SAG card on his official Instagram:
While on strike, actors are barred from publicizing any studio projects they’ve appeared in which means that a pop-up event where Gehlfuss and Soffer were scheduled to appear had to be canceled.
Yolanda Ross who plays Jada Washington on The Chi posted a strike sign in solidarity.
Somebody Somewhere
Heidi Johanningmeier who plays Charity on Somebody Somewhere posted:
I am so proud to be a member of SAG – AFTRA and I am so grateful for my union @sagaftra who has had my back since day 1 of joining the union. I fully support this strike and am be proud to stand with my fellow artists along with all of the talented writers ❤️
Justified: City Primeval
After the writers strike began, Timothy Olyphant, who plays U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens voiced his support of the WGA strike when he addressed the crowd at ATX Television Festival and said,
“I want to shout-out to our writers,” Olyphant said. “I hope those f-ers get everything they’re asking for. I was just [watching this screening] and counting laughs. The writers did that for me. They gave me all those laughs. There’s heart there, a lot of great stuff, and none of it would exist without a writer. If you say to a chat thing, ‘Write Season 9,’ it’ll suck.”
He has since joined other members of SAG-AFTRA on the picket line:
ALSO READ: FULL STRIKE COVERAGE ON REEL 360
ALSO READ: CHICAGO STRIKE COVERAGE
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