SAG-AFTRA, the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, has issued a clarification of its Halloween strike guidelines following criticism from actors Ryan Reynolds, Mandy Moore, and former SAG president Melissa Gilbert. The controversy arose after the union published a now-deleted post on its website offering “Halloween guidance” to its members during the ongoing strike. The guidelines advised actors to dress as generalized characters and figures such as ghosts and zombies, rather than wearing costumes associated with popular movies and franchises. However, SAG has now confirmed that these rules do not apply to the children of its members.
In a statement released on Friday night, SAG stated that the Halloween guidance was meant to help members avoid promoting struck work and was part of a series of guidelines the union has issued. The clarification emphasized that the rules do not extend to anyone’s kids. SAG further stated that their main priority remains getting the studios back to the negotiating table to secure a fair deal for their members and resume work in the industry.
The backlash from actors came swiftly after the guidelines were published. Ryan Reynolds, known for his role as Deadpool, humorously tweeted, “I look forward to screaming ‘scab’ at my 8-year-old all night. She’s not in the union, but she needs to learn.” Mandy Moore also criticized the decision on her Instagram Story, urging SAG to negotiate in good faith and allow everyone to get back to work. Melissa Gilbert took to Instagram to tag current SAG president Fran Drescher and express her dissatisfaction with the Halloween guidelines. She questioned the relevance of such rules and their ability to end the strike.
The strike by SAG-AFTRA members, including prominent actors like George Clooney, Martin Sheen, and Bryan Cranston, has been ongoing for nearly 100 days. The actors are concerned about the studios’ use of artificial intelligence to replace them and the perceived lack of residuals from streaming content. Their efforts to negotiate a fair deal for the industry have garnered significant support, and they have been walking picket lines and participating in various public demonstrations.
As the strike continues, SAG-AFTRA’s Halloween strike rules have now been clarified to exempt the children of its members from the guidelines. The union’s focus remains on resolving the negotiations and getting the industry back to work.