During a SAG-AFTRA strike rally in Times Square on Tuesday, actor Bryan Cranston delivered an impassioned speech, sending a message to those striking as well as Disney’s CEO Bob Iger.
Cranston says jobs won’t be taken by robots
Cranston took to the stage early Tuesday in New York during a “Rock the City for a Fair Contract” rally for the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike. Cranston began his speech by talking about the everchanging industry of Hollywood, before deriding the Hollywood studios for continuing to fight SAG-AFTRA “tooth and nail” to stay in the same economic system.
“We are not in the same business model we were even 10 years ago,” Cranston said (via Variety). “And yet, even though they admit that is the truth in today’s economy, they are fighting us tooth and nail to stick to the same economic system that is outmoded, outdated! They want us to step back in time. We cannot and we will not do that.”
The legendary actor then took aim at Disney’s CEO Bob Iger, saying that those involved in the strike would not have their jobs taken away by “robots” — a reference to the use of AI in film, a huge sticking point in both the SAG-AFTRA and WGA strike.
“I know, sir, that you look [at] things through a different lens,” said Cranston. “We don’t expect you to understand who we are. But we ask you to hear us, and beyond that to listen to us when we tell you we will not be having our jobs taken away and given to robots. We will not have you take away our right to work and earn a decent living. And lastly, and most importantly, we will not allow you to take away our dignity! We are union through and through, all the way to the end!”
Cranston was just one of many stars who appeared at the rally in New York City. Alongside Cranston, actors Steve Buscemi, Wendell Pierce, Christian Slater, Christine Baranski, Stephen Lang, Titus Burgess, Michael Shannon, BD Wong, Brendan Fraser, Jessica Chastain, Matt Bomer, Chloë Grace Moretz, Corey Stoll, and more spoke.
