Barbie on picket line: Margot Robbie joins SAG-AFTRA strike as protest approaches its second month
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Just a few months after the release of the highest-grossing film of the year, 'Barbie' star Margot Robbie joined her fellow co-workers in the SAG-AFTRA picket line on Wednesday, September 13.
The actress kept her word and used her power to back the ongoing Hollywood writers' and actors' strikes by walking with a large group of protesters from Netflix to Paramount Studios in West Hollywood while waving a SAG-AFTRA poster.
Robbie was joined by Australian star and doppelganger, actress Samara Weaving, 31, of 'Nine Perfect Strangers', giving protesters double the blonde encouragement to follow their agenda.
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Notably, the Writers Guild of America (WGA) went on strike on May 2, followed by SAG-AFTRA on July 14, the union representing actors.
Actors and writers in Hollywood are presently participating in their first "double strike" in more than 60 years, where they have pledged to defend all industry workers from being replaced by Artificial Intelligence (AI), among other things, as per Daily Mail.
A heartfelt thank you to the HUNDREDS who rallied with us today in Los Angeles! Together, we've shown the AMPTP that we're here, we're strong, and we won't back down. We'll be at their front door every day until we get what we deserve! 💪🎭 pic.twitter.com/lb8aILoiQ7
— SAG-AFTRA (@sagaftra) September 14, 2023
Margot Robbie has backed the SAG-AFTRA strike from the time it began
Margot Robbie backed the actors on the eve of the SAG-AFTRA strike as well as showed support for the Writers Guild of America demonstration when it began in May. Many of the demands made of the studios and streamers by the WGA's writers and the SAG-AFTRA's actors are mutually exclusive.
Robbie declared that she "absolutely" supported the walkout, as per The West Australian.
Margot Robbie supporting the SAG-AFTRA strike in Los Angeles today.
— Pop Crave (@PopCrave) September 14, 2023
pic.twitter.com/JMe2EGbVtg
The 'Barbie' actress said, "I am very much in support of all the unions. I am a part of SAG so I absolutely stand by that."
Robbie, other actors, and writers are clamoring for wage increases that keep up with inflation. They also want safeguards against AI since they are concerned that it would eliminate a lot of employment in film and television.
margot robbie supporting the sag-aftra strike pic.twitter.com/mTWxbyV8an
— best of margot robbie (@margotposts) September 13, 2023
Margot Robbie joins picket line a month after 'Barbie' became a blockbuster hit
Margot Robbie joined the picket line just a few months after touring the world to promote her blockbuster summer movie 'Barbie'.
Just one month after its theatrical premiere, the movie was declared the highest-grossing film of 2023, earning over $1.3 billion globally.
While Robbie wholeheartedly supports the cause of the double strike, other celebrities are facing criticism from fans for choosing to move forward with their projects despite the current strike.
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Talk show host Drew Barrymore has come under fire for her decision to resume 'The Drew Barrymore Show' during the strike and was even relieved of her hosting duties for the National Book Foundation after making her decision public.
The strikes have primarily targeted streaming services, such as Netflix and Paramount, since compared to conventional television networks, films and series that run on these platforms pay their performers and writers far less in residuals.
NBC Universal, Apple, CBS, Amazon, Disney, and Sony are among the corporations that have suffered due to the ongoing strikes.