*Will Smith is the latest celebrity to support the SAG-AFTRA strike, calling it “a pivotal moment for our profession,” in a statement shared on social media.
Members of the actor’s union joined members of the Writers Guild of America (WGA) last month in calling for more wages for actors and creators. They’ve also expressed concerns over AI technology and how the profits of digital streaming can be divided.
As Ace Showbiz reports, Smith took to Instagram to write, “I wanna talk for a second about ACTING. As some of yall mighta heard, my guild, @SAGAFTRA are on strike along with our writer colleagues in the WGA. It’s a pivotal moment for our profession.(sic)”
The “King Richard” star made his comments in an Instagram post praising his “friend, teacher and mentor” Aaron Speiser for helping him to feel less of a fraud in his own career and admitted he’d felt inspired after joining the acting teacher at one of his classes and getting the chance to meet his young students.
He continued, “33 years into my career as an actor and there are still some days when I feel like I’m that kid from Philly who’s on borrowed time, even though I know I’ve been extraordinarily blessed and lucky to have worked as an actor all this time. It’s thanks to my friend, my teacher and my mentor @aaronspeiser whom I fondly refer to as ‘coach’ that those days when I feel like I don’t belong are fewer and further between. Coach invited me to an acting class the other day and I met a group of our talented next generation of actors and they amazed and inspired me! I’m grateful to coach for continuing to support these talented hopefuls in this art-form that I love and have been lucky enough to work in for three decades of my life! Thanks COACH!(sic)”
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Meanwhile, several major stars have donated $1M each to the SAG-AFTRA Foundation including Oprah, Meryl Streep, Nicole Kidman, Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck, Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively and Hugh Jackman.
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson donated an undisclosed “seven-figure” amount to the SAG relief fund amid the actors’ strike.
“Thank you @TheRock for your extraordinary generosity and historic donation to the SAG-AFTRA Foundation! You’re helping thousands of @sagaftra actors and families in urgent need, and taking the lead for others to follow! We appreciate you!!!” the foundation said in a statement on Twitter.
The actor’s union called the strike on July 13, and soon after, SAG-AFTRA Foundation’s president Courtney B. Vance, and executive director, Cyd Wilson, sent a letter to the union’s 2,700 highest-earning members requesting financial assistance, Urban Hollywood 411 reports.
Major stars donated $1M each to the SAG relief fund including:
• Oprah
• Meryl Streep
• Nicole Kidman
• Leonardo DiCaprio
• Luciana & Matt Damon
• Arnold Schwarzenegger
• Jennifer Lopez & Ben Affleck
• Ryan Reynolds & Blake Lively
• Hugh Jackman & Deborra-lee Furness pic.twitter.com/nasoozANCv— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) August 2, 2023
“Our mandate and our mission is to be able to help members in times of need and crisis times financially — for their medical bills, their rents, their mortgages and their food. And that’s where we find ourselves once again. They’re on the picket lines, but they still have to be able to pay for things,” Vance explained in a statement, Variety reports.
SAG-AFTRA Foundation grants can reach $1,500, and lifetime members can receive emergency assistance up to $6,000 in dire circumstances.
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