As the Writers’ Strike entering its third week, support grew GROWING over time. Public actors joined picketing efforts because they were close lashing out at themselves, and people online and in real life show solidarity in different ways. And as it turns out, even college students are getting into it.
Earlier today, graduating students at Boston University made it clear that they stand with the writers by mocking Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav during their ceremony. According to Hollywood ReporterThe Class of 2023 is not here because he showed up at his alma mater: if they did not boo him, they loudly told him that they did not want him there, to pay his writers, and to keep quiet in general. You can see it below, and let it brighten your Sunday just a little bit. And if that wasn’t enough, the ceremony also had an airplane flying above telling him to pay his writers.
Zaslav was first announced as a speaker for the ceremony earlier in the month, and the WGA said they would picket the ceremony. Previously, they called his appearance a “bad decision” on the part of the university, adding that the institution “should not give voice to someone who wants to destroy their students who can make a career in the industry of film and television.” Zaslav tried to power through his speech and giving advice to the new graduates, but that never worked. The parts of his speech that he did without angering the graduates were:
“Some people look for a fight. […] You can’t choose the people you work with. Think about what you want in someone who always has something and do what it takes to navigate their challenges. We all have them.”
In the early days of the Writers Strike, Zaslav told CNBC that he believed it would end once writers realized how much they love to work. That comment went on as you’d expect, but it’s not like he didn’t dig himself to begin with. Among a reported $35 million salary and canceling the variety movies and TV shows to save money (without telling the directly delete with the same reason), the WB Discovery CEO is no one’s friend at the moment. And it should be like this for the CEOs of every studio until they pay the writers, actors, directors, and everyone in the entertainment.in the living wage industry that they have needed for years.
In a statement released to THR after the ceremony, Zaslav wrote that he “great support for writers, and hope that the strike will be resolved soon and in a way that they feel recognizes their value.”
Update: This post adds more information about Zaslav’s appearance at Boston University, along with a statement about the Writers Strike that he released to the Hollywood Reporter.
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