Stephen Amell (Heels, The Flash) has made his apparent distaste for the actors strike abundantly clear. Amell, whose most known role is the lead in The CW’s Arrow, has determined that the strike is, according to Deadline, “incredibly frustrating,” “myopic” and “a reductive negotiating tactic.”
This makes Amell one of the most high profile actors to speak out against the SAG-AFTRA strike. While it’s not expected for everyone to agree with the WGA and SAG-AFTRA in regards to the strike, but it should be noted that the majority is most certainly in agreement rather than the opposition. This past June, almost 98% of SAG-AFTRA union members voted in favor of the strike, which began on July 13, 2023. Many A-list celebrities have been public about their support of the strike, actors like Jessica Chastain (Zero Dark Thirty, The Help), Matt Damon (Good Will Hunting, Air) and George Clooney (Fantastic Mr. Fox, Ticket to Paradise).
Amell said during Galaxycon in Raleigh, North Carolina, “I support my union, I do, and I stand with them, but I do not support striking, I don’t. I think it’s a reductive negotiating tactic, and I find the entire thing incredibly frustrating. And I think the thinking as it pertains to shows like the show that I’m on [Heels], that premiered last night, I think it’s myopic.”
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Amell further explained his true intentions with the statement with “as I said from the jump, I want to ensure that my thoughts and intentions are not misconstrued. This situation reminds me of a proverb, ‘the road to hell is paved with good intentions,’ which apparently, after reading a limited amount of the commentary, is a place many of you would like me to visit. However, at least for the foreseeable future, I choose to stand with my union. When you see me on a picket line please don’t whip any hard fruit.”
Read Amell’s full explanation here.