Did Stephen Amell backtrack his comments on the SAG-AFTRA strike? 'Arrow' star joins picket lines after backlash
NEW YORK CITY, UNITED STATES: Stephen Amell has decided to show his support for SAG-AFTRA by participating in their picket line. The 42-year-old actor was captured on Friday walking alongside his fellow union members outside Warner Bros Discovery in New York City.
He proudly wore a "SAG-AFTRA Strong" shirt and carried a picket sign during the demonstration.
This appearance comes after the 'Arrow' star faced criticism in July due to comments he made about the SAG-AFTRA strike. While speaking at Galaxycon, Amell expressed frustration with the strike, referring to it as "incredibly frustrating" and "myopic."
He specifically criticized the union's regulations that restrict promoting current or previous SAG-related work.
Stephen Amell's statements are facing serious criticism
“I support my union, I do. And I stand with them. I do not support striking. I don’t," he expressed, continuing, “I think that it is a reductive negotiating tactic. I find the entire thing incredibly frustrating. I think the thinking as it pertains to shows, like the show that I’m on that premiered last night — I think it’s myopic.”
This fucking guy🙄#KidVicious🖕🏽🐲🖕🏽 https://t.co/VWocGhxEfr
— KID VICIOUS🔪 (@kirkacevedo) August 1, 2023
Following his comments, several stars from the Arrowverse took to social media to criticize Stephen Amell's statements. Kirk Acevedo, Amell's former co-star on ‘Arrow’, tweeted, "This f---ing guy."
Still waiting on that comprehensive list of totally non-reductive negotiating tactics we get to employ now. Thank god for superheroes! Any second now…. #SAGAFTRAstrike #SAGAFTRAstrong
— Matt Letscher (@MattLetscher) August 1, 2023
Matt Lescher, who appeared in ‘Legends of Tomorrow’ and ‘The Flash’, sarcastically questioned Amell's understanding of negotiation tactics, writing, "Still waiting on that comprehensive list of totally non-reductive negotiating tactics we get to employ now. Thank god for superheroes! Any second now…."
Stephen Amell backtrack his comments on SAG-AFTRA strike
In response to the backlash, Amell took to Instagram to provide a more in-depth explanation of his remarks. He aimed to clarify his stance on the matter and address the concerns raised by his colleagues and fans.
In a lengthy caption, he emphasized that his support for the union is unwavering and acknowledged the potential for soundbites to be misconstrued when taken out of context.
View this post on Instagram
“I understand fundamentally why we’re here,” he wrote. “My off the cuff use of the word ‘support’ is clearly contradictory to my true feelings and my emphatic statement that I stand with my union. Of course I don’t like striking. Nobody does. But we have to do what we have to do.”
“I’m an actor and I was speaking extemporaneously for over an hour,” he continued. “I emote, but I certainly don’t think these issues are simple. Our leadership has an incredibly complicated job and I am grateful for all that they do.”
Amell further elaborated that he comprehended the strike on an "intellectual perspective," acknowledging its rationale and objectives.
However, he continued to assert that the situation remains "emotionally frustrating" not only for himself but also for others involved.
In the comments section of his post, he reiterated his unwavering support for SAG-AFTRA, reinforcing his commitment to the union and its cause.