Disney CEO Bob Iger opens mouth. Inserts foot.

“There’s a level of expectation that they have, that is just not realistic.”

On the morning SAG-AFTRA leadership unanimously voted to go on strike, Disney CEO Bob Iger appeared on the CNBC show Squawkbox. Here is what he said about the breakdown in negotiations [emphasis added]:

“It’s very disturbing to me. We’ve talked about disruptive forces on this business and all the challenges we’re facing, the recovery from COVID which is ongoing, it’s not completely back. This is the worst time in the world to add to that disruption. I understand any labor organization’s desire to work on behalf of its members to get the most compensation and be compensated fairly based on the value that they deliver. We managed, as an industry, to negotiate a very good deal with the directors guild that reflects the value that the directors contribute to this great business. We wanted to do the same thing with the writers, and we’d like to do the same thing with the actors. There’s a level of expectation that they have, that is just not realistic. And they are adding to the set of the challenges that this business is already facing that is, quite frankly, very disruptive.”

When is a good time? The film and television business has shifted dramatically over the last decade requiring a major restructuring of the WGA and SAG-AFTRA contracts with the studios, networks, and streaming services. No token increases like the DGA deal. We need substantive changes to save the film and TV business from its own greed and chasing after Wall Street’s approval.

Disturbing? Distruptive? Here are just some of the reactions via social media today.

But clearly THE response of the day was provided by SAG-AFTRA president Fran Drescher at the press conference today announcing the actors strike.

Disturbing? Hell yeah, the rank and file members of the Hollywood community who actually make the stories which create revenue for the companies are disturbed.

Disruptive? If the suits think the picket lines in L.A. and NYC have been a problem so far, just wait until the actors join up.

That all begins 9AM today: Friday, July 14, 2023. Because for the first time in 63 years, both the writers and actors are officially on strike.

For the latest updates on the strike and news resources, go here.