Hollywood Is Livid with Bob Iger
Have you ever said anything that you wish you could take back, no matter how much you meant it at the time?
Well, that’s how Bob Iger is feeling right now after his CNBC interview this morning.
Photo: DIsney+
Disney’s CEO just managed to tick off pretty much everyone in Hollywood with one comment.
Here’s why Hollywood is livid with Bob Iger.
Iger Talks about the Strike
Image: Warner Bros. and Greg Antonelle
Sometimes, when we’re frustrated, we say things we later regret.
That statement doesn’t typically apply to Bob Iger, one of the most polished spokespeople alive today. However, Iger screwed up badly this morning.
At midnight PST, the deadline passed for the SAG-AFTRA negotiations.
Photo: DIsney+
A mere five hours later, Iger, a notorious early bird, spoke with CNBC. And he was clearly a grumpy old man about the acting guild’s decision to strike.
Iger vented a bit when asked about the matter in the interview. The CEO agreed with the notion that actors aren’t being realistic with their demands.
Photo: TIME
Here’s how Iger described the current negotiations with writers and actors:
“It’s very disturbing to me.
Photo: DIsney+
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…”
The CEO with an estimated net worth of $690 million added:
“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.”
Photo: The Walt Disney Company
That’s like your millionaire boss telling you that he can’t give you a raise because he crashed his Lamborghini last week and has to buy a new one.
Meanwhile, you’re worrying about whether you can pay the rent/mortgage next month.
Less than five hours after learning there would be a strike, Iger was deep in his feelings when he performed a live interview, and that mistake has cost him.
Iger Tells Poorer People Not to Be So Greedy
This was a “let them eat cake” moment for Iger, and he’s getting killed on social media for it.
One of the richest people on the planet just told writers living paycheck to paycheck that they’re not accepting the reality of their situation.
Photo: orlandothemeparkzone.com
This happened on the heels of a meticulously leaked Deadline story that rich Hollywood power brokers planned to delay negotiations until writers lost their homes.
That’s a real thing that happened. As a negotiating tactic, somebody thought it’d be good PR to threaten to make workers homeless. Whoops.
(Photo by Kimberly White/Getty Images for Vanity Fair)
In historical terms, nonsense like this is what causes the peasants to revolt.
Iger is basically arguing that in the wake of the pandemic, it’s the worst possible time for writers and actors to go on strike. And it is…for him.
Hollywood hasn’t faced simultaneous strikes in 63 years, which means few of us have witnessed this in our lifetimes.
Disney will bear the brunt of that strike, as all its productions will close, and actors won’t perform publicity for upcoming releases.
Photo: Haunted Mansion Wiki
The FIRST Hollywood production to have its world premiere red carpet event disrupted by the strike is…Haunted Mansion.
How Hollywood Feels about Iger’s Comments
Iger was too worried about how the strike hurt him and callously infuriated thousands of impacted workers.
This is legitimately one of the worst unforced errors I can ever recall him making.
We’re already seeing headlines like this: “Disney CEO Earning About $27 Million A Year Calls Strike by Writers And Actors ‘Disturbing’”!
Writers already on the picket lines are seemingly angrier about Iger’s comments than the actual start of the second strike.
Iger’s golden reputation has always hinged on his relationships with talent.
Photo credit: CNBC.com
This one comment will likely get attached to his name indefinitely, just as happened with former CEO Bob Chapek and the Scarlett Johansson nonsense.
From Disney’s perspective, this is pretty much the worst thing that could have happened the day after Iger extended his contract.
Photo: Getty
Now, Iger looks like an out-of-touch old man who has lost his Midas Touch.
Disney’s legendary CEO is gonna need to fix this problem immediately, or it will become an unwelcome part of his legacy.
Photo: MickeyBlog
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