Billy Porter Forced to Sell House Amid Hollywood Strikes
Hollywood strikes have taken a toll on actor Billy Porter, who revealed that he has been forced to sell his house due to the work stoppages. In an interview with the Evening Standard, the Pose star shared the financial struggles he has faced since his upcoming projects were put on hold.
Porter explained, “Because we’re on strike and I don’t know when we’re gonna go back [to work], I have to sell my house. The life of an artist, until you make fuck-you money—which I haven’t made yet—is still check-to-check. I was supposed to be in a new movie and on a new television show starting in September. None of that is happening.”
The actor also referenced a report from Deadline which quoted an anonymous studio executive stating that studios won’t return to the negotiating table with the Writers Guild until “union members start losing their apartments and losing their houses.” Responding to this, Porter said, “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 further discussed how the industry has changed over the years, particularly with the emergence of streaming platforms. He highlighted the need for the contract to evolve and adapt to the new landscape, emphasizing the lack of transparency in streaming viewership figures and the absence of contracts for artists.
In addition, Porter criticized Disney head Bob Iger for his remarks regarding the strikes. During an interview with CNBC, Iger called the strikes “very disturbing” and claimed they would have a “very, very damaging effect on the whole business.” In response, Porter said, “To hear Bob Iger say that our demands for a living wage are unrealistic? … I don’t have any words for it, but: fuck you.”
Despite his current situation, Porter expressed his determination to support the strikes upon returning to the United States, stating that he will join the picket lines. As the strikes continue to impact the entertainment industry, the demand for fair compensation and improved working conditions remains at the forefront of negotiations.