In today’s Q3 2023 earnings call for The Walt Disney Company, CEO Bob Iger shared a statement on the ongoing strikes in Hollywood, stating he is “personally committed” to ending them.

Bob Iger Comments on Hollywood Strikes

After being slammed for saying the demands of writers and actors were “not realistic,” Iger has shared more words on the strike and how the creative community is vital to the company.

And speaking of the content we create, I’d like to say a few words about the ongoing strikes.

Nothing is more important to this company than its relationships with the creative community, and that includes actors, writers, animators, directors, and producers. I have deep respect and appreciation for all those who are vital to the extraordinary creative engine that drives this company and our industry.

It is my fervent hope that we quickly find solutions to the issues that have kept us apart these past few months, and I am personally committed to working to achieve this result.

SAG-AFTRA and WGA Strikes

These issues to which Iger are referring involve the WGA and SAG-AFTRA’s demands to restrict the use of AI technology to replace human workers and replicate actors’ likenesses without compensation or consent, as well as streaming royalties and residual payments. Iger has previously said these demands were “very disturbing” to him.

SAG-AFTRA has not gone on strike against television and film companies for over four decades, and both writers and actors have not been striking together at the same time since 1960.

Many famous faces in the entertainment industry have spoken out against Iger’s comments, including “Breaking Bad” actor Bryan Cranston, who personally addressed Iger at a SAG-AFTRA strike rally in New York City; and SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher, who called Iger’s comments “repugnant” and “out of touch.” “Guardians of the Galaxy” actor Sean Gunn also weighed in, along with Adam Conover of the educational comedy series “Adam Ruins Everything.”

So, this morning, the CEO of Disney went on TV and said that what writers and actors are asking for is not realistic, because they just don’t have enough money to pay us. But he said this at a billionaire retreat, where he was hanging out with Mark Zuckerberg and David Zaslav, that they all flew to on their private jets. And you know what? I don’t think that that’s f—— realistic. Here’s a dose of reality for you, Bob: writers cannot afford to pay their mortgages. Actors are not able to make a living in Los Angeles anymore. That is reality to us, not flying around on private jets — and until you accept that reality, we are going to be out here on the picket lines, withholding our labor, depriving you of your product, and you will not make another dollar off of us until you come back to the table and face reality and negotiate with us as you have refused to do. Until you do that, there will be no acting and no writing.

Here’s a selection of major stories from today’s earnings call compiled below:

• Disney Parks & Resorts Reports 13% Increase & $8.3 Billion in Revenue for Third Quarter 2023
• Direct-to-Consumer Losses Lessen, Overall Disney+ Subscriber Count Drops While Core Members Rise 1% in Third Quarter 2023
• Losses Shrink & Savings Target of $5.5 Billion Exceeded in $22.3 Billion Third Quarter 2023 for The Walt Disney Company
• International Disney Parks Shine While Galactic Starcruiser Closure & Lower Attendance Cause Domestic Destinations to Languish
• Disney+ Joining Netflix in Crackdown on Password-Sharing
• Disney CEO Bob Iger Refuses to Speculate on Sale of Entire Company
• Disney+ & Hulu Increasing Premium Plan Cost, New Ad-Free Bundle of Both Coming to the U.S. Soon

For the latest Disney Parks news and info, follow WDW News Today on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.