FX's Restrictive Contracts Stifle American Horror Story Star Angelica Ross's Acting Opportunities

Angelica Ross. Chelsea Lauren/Shutterstock

Angelica Ross, star of American Horror Story, is opening up about her contract with FX amidst the strikes by SAG-AFTRA and WGA.

Taking to Instagram on Sunday, July 23, the 42-year-old actress shared, "FX had me under a 7-year contract in what they refer to as 'first position'. Being a series regular, I was unable to work elsewhere without network approval. While filming for AHS season 10, I was informed that I would be returning for season 11 and was put on hold for several months. During this period, Marvel contacted me multiple times inquiring about my availability. However, by the time FX released me, Marvel had stopped reaching out."

The actress stated that she had not worked as an actress for several years, which is one of the reasons for the ongoing strike. She also used the hashtags #UnionStrong and #SAGAFTRAstrike. Approximately three years ago, there were rumors circulating about Ross joining the Marvel Universe. At that time, Ross utilized social media to address these speculations.

Regrettably, I cannot confirm or deny the rumors regarding my involvement in the new @MarvelStudios & @disneyplus series #Loki," she tweeted in February 2020. "However, I must acknowledge the impressive skills of internet sleuths who managed to uncover more information than I was aware of." Prior to Ross addressing her contractual situation, Ryan Murphy, the creator of the AHS franchise, faced backlash for not stopping production on the show's 12th season. Additionally, he issued a threat to sue Warren Leight, the former WGA strike captain.

In June, Leight, the former showrunner of Law & Order SVU, claimed in a tweet that crew members on Murphy's AHS had informed him that they would face consequences in Murphy's projects if they did not cross the Writers Guild of America's picket lines. A spokesperson for Murphy dismissed these claims as untrue and baseless. Subsequently, Leight issued an apology and stepped back from his roles as co-chair of the Strike Rules Compliance Committee and as a captain.

According to an East Coast captain who spoke to The Hollywood Reporter at the time, Murphy is abiding by the law by attending set as a producer/showrunner/director and asserts that he is not involved in any writing. This captain argues that no guild can accuse someone of mere speculation, and although many would like to see evidence of Murphy scabbing, there is no proof as he is working on scripts that were completed prior to the strike commencing.

Kim Kardashian, set to appear in the twelfth season of the FX series, faced criticism in June for tweeting about being on set during the strike. It was announced in April that Kardashian would be part of the AHS cast.

According to an exclusive source, this project has been in the works for several months, and Kardashian was thrilled to begin filming last month. She sees this as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and is excited for everyone to see the final result. Despite feeling a bit nervous about delivering a great performance, Kardashian has found the cast and crew to be extremely welcoming and enjoyable to work with.

Although production is currently paused, Kardashian found enjoyment on set, particularly with her costar Emma Roberts. According to a source, "Emma has been remarkable to collaborate with, and their chemistry is great." While Kim is thoroughly enjoying the entire experience, she is also eagerly anticipating the unveiling of the extraordinary wardrobe.

Fans were given a sneak peek of the upcoming season through a teaser released on July 20. The teaser featured Kardashian, Roberts (32), and Cara Delevingne sporting avant-garde sunglasses as they posed in a chilling nursery setting.