Under the scorching midday sun, the atmosphere outside Netflix’s headquarters on Sunset Boulevard was filled with seething anger. Hundreds of picketers gathered, embarking on what would become the most monumental strike in Hollywood’s history. But amid the sea of protesters, there was one question that echoed through the crowd: where were the A-list celebrities?
Signs dotted the picket lines, each expressing frustration and disappointment at the absence of big-name stars. One sign in particular read, “Where in the f*** is Ben Affleck?” Another exclaimed, “Your poor Montana ranch! I’m trying to pay my rent, not my third and fourth mortgage and fuel my private jet!” The industry’s highest earners, including George Clooney, Meryl Streep, Jennifer Lawrence, Margot Robbie, and Matt Damon, had all issued statements supporting the 160,000 members of the actors’ union, SAG-AFTRA, who had effectively brought Tinseltown to a standstill.
As the scorching 32-degree Celsius heat beat down on the picketers, their frustrations became clear. They feared that artificial intelligence (AI) would soon replace their jobs, and they were irate over the refusal of streaming services to pay residuals—the traditional payments made by studios each time a show or movie airs. Yet, as I spoke to the protesters, the absence of A-list stars was palpable.
One anonymous jobbing actor, fearing potential blacklisting, criticized what he called the “woke” celebrities who merely paid lip service to the strike. “People like Clooney and others talk the talk but don’t walk the walk,” he remarked. “When it comes to walking the pavement outside a studio, where are they? They are sitting in their air-conditioned mansions.” Another protester, when asked why she singled out Ben Affleck on her sign, simply shrugged and replied, “He should be here. They all should.”
While some celebrities, including Clooney and Jessica Chastain, voiced their support through statements and social media, others took a more proactive stance. Oscar-winner Susan Sarandon joined the SAG-AFTRA picket outside Netflix’s New York office, emphasizing the impact of AI and the need for proactive measures. Meanwhile, stars like Emily Blunt, Cillian Murphy, and Matt Damon walked off the red carpet at the London premiere of their movie Oppenheimer in solidarity with the strike action. However, the majority of A-listers were notably absent. Leonardo DiCaprio was spotted on a yacht in St Tropez, and even the Duchess of Sussex, once a member of SAG-AFTRA herself, was seen shopping at a local farmer’s market near her California home.
The lack of celebrity support left many picketers disheartened. “It sure would give people a huge boost if [Meghan Markle] would show up,” one actor remarked. “This is a fight for our survival, and the eyes of the world are on us.” Frustration grew as protesters questioned the absence of actors like Jennifer Aniston and Brad Pitt, who resided near Netflix’s headquarters.
