Arrow Star Stephen Amell Shocks Fans with Unexpected Move on Actor's Strike Picket, Weeks After Controversial Backlash

Summary

Arrow actor Stephen Amell, despite his earlier comments against striking, joined the SAG-AFTRA picket line alongside fellow actors in New York City.

Amell's previous comments on striking attracted significant backlash; however, his decision to participate in the strike is viewed as a commendable action.

The consequences of Amell's controversial stance on his future professional endeavors are uncertain, and only time will determine if he encounters any challenges within the industry.

Despite publicly expressing his lack of support for striking, Stephen Amell, known for his role in Arrow, surprised many when he decided to join the SAG-AFTRA picket line. The ongoing battle for the future of Hollywood continues, with both the Writers Guild of America and SAG-AFTRA strikes still in full force. Over the summer, writers and actors have been actively protesting outside numerous Hollywood studios, demanding better wages and improved terms in their new contracts. However, Amell, who played a significant role in launching The CW's Arrowverse franchise, found himself in the midst of controversy after voicing his disapproval of strikes.

Amell was spotted with his fellow actors at the SAG-AFTRA strike picket in New York City, just two weeks after his controversial comments came to light. Images released by John Nacion/Getty Images (via @GeekVibesNation) generated significant social media buzz, given the heavy criticism Amell had faced for his remarks about the strike.

On the same day as the picket, Amell's Arrow cast and crew had a reunion in Los Angeles. Katie Cassidy, known for her role as Dinah Laurel Lance (Black Canary) in the Arrowverse, shared an Instagram photo featuring all the individuals involved. The picture includes Juliana Harkavy (Dinah Drake/Black Canary), Willa Holland (Thea Queen/Speedy), Katrina Law (Nyssa al Ghul), Caity Lotz (Sara Lance/White Canary), Kirk Acevedo (Ricardo Diaz), Beth Schwartz (Arrow season 6-8 showrunner), Keto Shimizu (Arrow writer/Legends of Tomorrow showrunner), and former Arrow showrunners Marc Guggenheim and Wendy Mericle.

Stephen Amell's SAG-AFTRA Controversy Explained

Amell's latest controversy erupted when a video of him at Galaxycon went viral on August 1. In the video, he expressed support for his union but voiced disapproval of the concept of striking. Amell regarded striking as a simplistic bargaining tactic and found the entire notion highly exasperating. This led to swift backlash on social media from fans and industry figures who were taken aback by his stance.

In response, Amell issued a detailed statement on his official social media pages less than 24 hours later. In the statement, he acknowledged his earlier comments on striking as "inarticulate" and reaffirmed his solidarity with the union. However, during an interview with TMZ on August 2, Amell essentially reiterated his stance on the SAG-AFTRA strike, expressing regret that his views had become public knowledge despite having expressed them at a public event. Amell also stated his willingness to be the first to test the boundaries if it would contribute to the negotiation process, saying, "I am more than happy to take those slings and arrows."

The impact of this on Amell's career in the future is still uncertain, but it has certainly cast a negative shadow on him in recent weeks. It is unclear whether SAG-AFTRA will respond to his remarks, but the fact that he participated in the picket line works in his favor. Only time will tell if the Arrow actor will encounter any hurdles in his acting career in the upcoming years.