In a recent interview with Variety, SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher expressed her strong disagreement with Walt Disney Chief Executive Bob Iger. Drescher, known for her role in the hit series “The Nanny,” found Iger’s remarks regarding the ongoing strike by Hollywood actors and writers to be “terribly repugnant and out of touch, and positively tone-deaf.” She went on to say, “If I were that company, I would lock him behind doors and never let him talk to anybody about this.”
Drescher didn’t stop there. She even compared Iger to a “land baron of a medieval time,” further emphasizing her disapproval. The strike, initiated by SAG-AFTRA union actors, came as a result of unsuccessful negotiations with major studios and streaming giants like Disney, Sony, Netflix, and Apple. With their contracts expiring on Wednesday, the actors joined forces with the striking members of the Writers Guild of America, who have been protesting since May over issues such as wages.
As the strike continues, tensions between industry leaders and talent representatives remain high. While Drescher’s strong criticism indicates the frustration felt by many within SAG-AFTRA, it remains to be seen how these negotiations will unfold and whether they will lead to a satisfactory resolution for all parties involved.
The Challenges of the Entertainment Industry
Disney’s CEO, Bob Iger, recently expressed his concerns regarding the ongoing strike by actors, stating that it adds to the numerous challenges already faced by the business, leading to significant disruptions. However, Fran Drescher, an actress and member of the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA), criticized Iger’s remarks, highlighting the vast difference in salaries between actors and executives like Iger. Dresher referred to the compensation received by Iger as “crazy money,” emphasizing the financial disparity.
According to Disney’s annual report, Iger received a total compensation of almost $15 million in 2022, while in 2021, after briefly retiring and then returning to the company, he was compensated with nearly $46 million. The previous year, he received $21 million.
SAG-AFTRA’s rate sheet indicates that actors working on a daily basis, without a long-term contract, are entitled to a minimum daily pay rate of $1,082 for productions with a budget of at least $2 million.
The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers claims to have made significant offers during negotiations, including historic pay and residual increases. They express regret that the talks broke down, suggesting that the union did not negotiate in good faith.