Selena Gomez Deletes Instagram Post Amidst Accusations of Violating Actors’ Strike Rules
Selena Gomez, the 31-year-old actor known for her roles in movies and TV shows, recently deleted an Instagram post after being accused of violating actors’ strike rules. The Screen Actors Guild – American of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) prohibits its members from promoting their work during the strike.
The controversy erupted on Tuesday, August 29, when Gomez shared what seemed to be a behind-the-scenes clip of the latest episode of her Disney+ series, “Only Murders in the Building.” Although her caption didn’t directly encourage her 428 million followers to watch the show, it prompted a debate among fans about whether it broke strike rules.
Some commenters accused Gomez of scabbing, while others deemed the post “tone deaf,” according to Variety. The video received over 1.1 million likes before Gomez decided to delete it from her profile.
The ongoing strike, which started on June 14, involves thousands of actors who joined the Writers Guild of America (WGA) in their battle for fair wages and other demands. The dominance of streaming services in the entertainment industry has led both guilds to address issues with production and pay.
As per SAG-AFTRA’s strike rules, members are prohibited from promoting their work through social media posts or interviews while the strike remains ongoing. However, certain exceptions have been made for “truly independent” films and TV shows, allowing them to continue production.
Notable projects with interim agreements include those featuring actors like Anne Hathaway, Dakota Fanning, Jason Bateman, and Matthew McConaughey. This historic strike marks the first time since 1960 that both actors and writers have united to picket film and television production companies, effectively shutting down Hollywood.
Many A-listers have shown their support for the strike, such as Bryan Cranston, who recently reunited with his “Breaking Bad” cast on the front lines of the strike in Los Angeles. Prior to this, stars from “Parks and Recreation” joined the picket line outside Amazon offices in Culver City, California.
The Independent has reached out to Gomez’s representatives for comment on the controversy, but no response has been received yet.
As the actors’ strike continues, it remains crucial for all industry participants to adhere to the rules set by guilds in order to ensure fair working conditions and compensation.