Television production across the United States has come to a halt as writers belonging to the Writers Guild of America (WGA) have gone on strike to demand higher pay and better benefits. The strike has received support from celebrities such as Pete Davidson, who handed out pizza to protesting writers outside New York City’s Silvercup Studios. The “Saturday Night Live” alum wore a black “Bupkis” hoodie, black sweatpants and Ugg boots and was seen saying, “No writers, no shows without the writers” in a video shared on the @pete_davidson_stan Instagram account.
Other celebrities who have shown their support include Sammi Hanratty and Quinta Brunson, who held signs while picketing with writers in Los Angeles. Jay Leno delivered donuts to protesting writers outside Disney Studios in Burbank, California, while Rob Lowe and his son John Owen Lowe walked along the picket line in front of Hollywood’s Paramount Pictures.
Late-night TV hosts Jimmy Fallon and Seth Meyers are also supporting the strike by helping to pay their crews while their shows are dark. NBC is paying staffers on the shows through the end of next week, while Fallon and Meyers will then pay employees for the third week. Both hosts are members of the striking WGA.
Meyers voiced his support for the striking writers on his show, saying, “No one is entitled to a job in show business. But for those people who have a job, they are entitled to fair compensation. They are entitled to make a living. I think it’s a very reasonable demand that’s being set out by the guild. And I support those demands.”
The WGA, which represents 11,500 screenwriter members, is demanding pay increases and more benefits. Studios have failed to agree on a new three-year contract, leading to the ongoing strike.
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