How Bob Iger Reacted to the End of the SAG-AFTRA Strike
When the clock struck midnight on Thursday, November 9, the SAG-AFTRA strike officially ended and Hollywood once again had labor peace.
There was perhaps no one in America more happy to hear that the actors would be returning to work than Disney CEO Bob Iger.
Photo: Getty Images
Not only was Disney in danger of missing out on the 2024 box office if the strike continued, but Iger himself had become the poster boy for out-of-touch studio executives after his June comments that the actors were “not realistic” in their demands.
Since the initial PR blunder, Iger worked hard both in front of cameras and behind the scenes to secure a new labor deal.
Photo: NBS News
Iger reportedly worked the back channels during the writers’ strike and leaned into his long-term relationship with the WGA’s Chris Keyser. During the SAG-AFTRA negotiations, Iger was the one who called chief negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland on the 100th day of labor action to suggest that talks restart on October 24. Overall, Iger’s presence at the negotiations was viewed as widely productive.
Iger Is Back on Top
So, what did the Disney CEO think when the strike ended?
Photo: Disney
“It was time,” he said of the agreement. “I’m really happy that we were able to reach an agreement with SAG after such a long period of time for the actors and that’ll be it.”
With Disney’s stock on the rebound following a strong earnings report and production set to begin again in earnest, happy days may be here again. When asked what his message was to the actors, now that a deal had been reached, Iger kept it simple.
Photo: PRNewsFoto/The Walt Disney Co.
“Welcome back,” he said.
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