As the SAG-AFTRA/WGA strike continues, more and more beloved casts of TV shows have been reuniting on the picket line. Shows like Parks and Rec, West Wing, and Shameless all have come together to strike with their respective unions. This week, the cast of Glee reunited during the strike. This reunion in particular was quite special, as the actress Heather Morris (Spring Breakers), who played Britney S. Pierce, paid tribute to her late co-star, Naya Rivera (Step Up).
Morris marched on the picket line with a sign quoting Santana Lopez, Rivera’s character on Glee. The sign read “The only straight I am is straight-up broke.”, a very fitting and relatable quote for actors and writers who have been striking for over 100 days.
Rivera’s death devastated fans and cast members of the show alike. In July of 2020, she went missing while boating with her son. After her disappearance, her son was found on the boat alone. Law enforcement then searched for her up until her body was found five days after her disappearance. Upon her death, Glee co-stars and fans alike took to social media to honor the actress and her beloved character.
At the strike, Morris shared a series of photos onto social media alongside her other Glee co-stars. The photos highlighted the cast and her tribute to Rivera in an Instagram post that was captioned “God these humans. We marched in solidarity with the @sagaftra and @wgastrikeunite @wgawest @wgaeast.”.
Santana wasn’t the only character who was quoted on the picket line. Jenna Ushkowitz (Hello Again) who played Tina Cohen-Chang carried sign with her character’s quote on it saying “I’m dehydrated from all the striking.” yet another fitting quote to be displayed under the hot LA sun.
Morris and Ushkowitz were joined by Kevin McHale (Boychior), Darren Criss (Hollywood, American Horror Story), Dot-Marie Jones (Bros, Golden Arm), Becca Tobin (LadyGang), Iqbal Theba (Land of Gold, Greenbook), and Vanessa Lengies (Stick It). Although there were a few Glee stars that were missing from this reunion, many of the actors who weren’t present showed their support online.
The WGA strike has been going strong since May 2023 and is now entering its 115th day of strike. SAG-AFTRA started their protest shortly after in July 2023, making their strike 43 days long and counting.