Fran Drescher’s Defense of Including a 'Heart-Shaped Plush Toy' in SAG-AFTRA Negotiations

SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher maintains her practice of bringing a heart-shaped plush doll to negotiations during strikes.

Drescher, 66, addressed a discussion on X (formerly Twitter) initiated by television writer David Slack on Wednesday, October 25. In the conversation, Slack, 51, supported Drescher's "unconventional" personality and asserted that the Nanny star has demonstrated fearlessness towards the CEOs affiliated with the Alliance of Motion Pictures and Television Producers (AMPTP).

"Thank you, David, for your support. I have mentioned it previously and I will reiterate, there is no need for me to adopt a masculine energy in order to be an effective leader," Drescher replied to Slack on Wednesday. "I am capable of being intelligent, possessing a discerning eye for flaws within a business model, while also finding comfort in a small heart-shaped plush toy that symbolizes my connection with Disney CEO Robert Iger. To put it simply, I can be myself."

Drescher was elected as the president of the labor union in September 2021 and was elected for a second term later this year. She has been leading the ongoing actors' strike which started in July due to a labor dispute with the AMPTP.

Earlier this month, the AMPTP's decision to suspend negotiations was met with strong criticism from the actress. "It was truly shocking because what does that exactly mean and why would you walk away from the table?" she questioned during her appearance on the Today show. "We're not asking for anything that's so outrageous," she emphasized.

Fran Drescher expressed her disapproval and labeled the studios' actions as "wrong" and "disrespectful". She pointed out that the studios merely engaged in one-sided conversations without genuinely valuing others' opinions or understanding their motives for speaking up.

Drescher made these remarks soon after the AMPTP, the representative body for key companies like Netflix, Disney, Paramount, and Amazon, stated that discussions with SAG-AFTRA had been halted following weeks of negotiations.

The AMPTP identified the proposal for actors to receive a two percent share of streaming platform earnings as the primary point of contention between the two organizations, claiming that it would result in an annual expense of over $800 million.

SAG-AFTRA retaliated by accusing the studios of deliberately distorting the proposed costs to the media by an exaggerated 60 percent.

The recent pause in negotiations finally concluded earlier this week as SAG-AFTRA and the AMPTP recommenced contract discussions on Tuesday, October 24. Drescher expressed her "optimism" about returning to the negotiation table through an Instagram post on Sunday, October 22.

Fran Drescher Jose Perez/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images

"Thank you, dear picketers and strike captains, for once again stepping up to the challenge!" she exclaimed. "Rest well, courageous souls! ️."

The Writers Guild of America (WGA), which ended its own strike against the AMPTP in September after five months of picketing, is urging the studios to engage in fair negotiations. The WGA emphasized that the agreement should not simply follow their own deal, but should take into account the distinct needs of the actors.

Earlier this month, the union released a statement expressing their disagreement with the traditional AMPTP tactic of imposing a deal on SAG-AFTRA based on their own tentative agreement or any other industry deal. They believe that this strategy has already caused significant delays and hardships. Instead, the union insists that the companies must negotiate a deal that takes into account the needs and concerns of performers. In support of SAG-AFTRA, WGA members vow to maintain their presence on picket lines until a satisfactory agreement is reached, highlighting their unwavering solidarity.