Fran Drescher, best known for her work as an actress and comedian, is no stranger to voicing her strong beliefs when it comes to labor rights. Her latest stand is against the mighty House of Mouse. As the current president of the Screen Actors Guild‐American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA), Drescher is advocating for the rights of her union members amidst a contentious strike.
Drescher’s voice was particularly loud and clear on Friday when she addressed the remarks made by Disney CEO Bob Iger regarding the actors’ strike. Iger deemed the union’s expectations as “not realistic” during a July 13 CNBC interview at the annual Sun Valley conference, a gathering known colloquially as the “summer camp for billionaires”.
“I found them terribly repugnant and out of touch,” Drescher commented about Iger’s statement to Variety. “Positively tone deaf. I don’t think it served him well.” She was on the picket line when she voiced these sentiments, showing solidarity with her union members.
Drescher highlighted the gap between Iger’s perspective and the reality of union members’ everyday lives. She suggested that Iger’s lack of insight into the situation indicated a disconnect with the workers. “It’s so obvious that he has no clue as to what is really happening on the ground with hard-working people that don’t make anywhere near the salary he is making,” Drescher said.
The situation reveals a dichotomy in the entertainment industry that many aren’t aware of. While Iger and others in top-tier positions may view the strike as disruptive, union members and supporters view it as a necessary step towards fair labor practices and realistic compensation. It’s a struggle between powerful corporations and the people whose work helps sustain them.
The SAG-AFTRA strike, as Drescher explained during a press conference, is a response to feeling “victimized by a very greedy entity.” She expressed shock at the treatment of the union members by the people they’ve been working with, highlighting the disparities between the earnings of CEOs and those of the union members.
This contentious labor dispute has now brought more than 160,000 actors to the picket line as of midnight on Friday, July 14, showing a united front against perceived exploitation and unfair treatment in the industry.
While the situation unfolds, Drescher continues to be an unwavering voice of protest, calling out companies like Disney and advocating for workers’ rights. The actress-turned-union-president is ensuring that the plight of SAG-AFTRA members is heard loud and clear. As the strike continues, her words remind us of the stark contrasts within the industry and the necessity for change. The resolution to this dispute will no doubt have lasting effects on the entertainment industry and the actors who breathe life into it.
