Title: Actor Billy Porter Forced to Sell House Amidst Ongoing SAG-AFTRA Strike
Subtitle: Thousands of actors and entertainers protest for fair pay and residuals in the streaming era
Byline: Nika Shakhnazarova | August 9, 2023 | 6:10am
Renowned actor Billy Porter has revealed the financial impact of the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike on his personal life, stating that he is being forced to sell his house. The strike, led by thousands of actors and entertainers in Hollywood and across the country, is in conjunction with the Writers Guild of America (WGA), demanding an increase in pay and residuals in the streaming era.
While the strike aims to bring positive change for actors, Porter is already experiencing the negative consequences. In an interview with the Evening Standard, the 53-year-old star of “Pose” expressed uncertainty about when work will resume, stating, “I have to sell my house. I don’t know when we’re gonna go back [to work].”
Porter further elaborated on the financial struggles faced by artists, explaining, “The life of an artist, until you make f–k-you money, which I haven’t made yet, is still check-to-check.” Despite having planned upcoming projects for September, Porter lamented that none of them will materialize due to the strike’s disruption.
In a direct response to reports that film executives are willing to prolong the strike until union members face severe financial consequences, Porter defiantly exclaimed, “So to the person who said, ‘We’re going to starve them out until they have to sell their apartments’ — you’ve already starved me out.”
Porter also criticized Disney CEO Bob Iger, who declared the actors’ expectations of treatment as “just not realistic.” Speaking about the evolving nature of the film and television industry in the streaming era, Porter argued, “The business has evolved. So the contract has to evolve and change, period.” He vehemently expressed his frustration towards Iger, highlighting the vast income disparity, stating, “To hear Bob Iger say that our demands for a living wage are unrealistic? While he makes $78,000 a day?… I haven’t engaged because I’m so enraged… When I go back I will join the picket lines.”
This strike marks the first time since 1980 that the 160,000-member-strong SAG-AFTRA has taken action in the film and television industry. As the strike continues, actors and entertainers persist in their demand for fair compensation in the era of streaming.
The impact of the ongoing strike on actors like Billy Porter highlights the significance of the battle for fair pay and residuals, shedding light on the financial struggles faced by many within the entertainment industry.