SAG-AFTRA Clarifies Halloween Costume Rules After Uproar, Ryan Reynolds Mocks

James Hibberd
·2 min read
20

SAG-AFTRA has issued a statement, indeed a clarification, on its Halloween costume rules for striking actors, which has been much discussed online since The Hollywood Reporter first posted about the rather strict-sounding guidelines Wednesday.

No, the guild isn’t backing off its rules, which state that card-carrying actors should stick to generic costume ideas (such as “ghost, zombie, or spider”), rather than specific characters which might inadvertently promote a struck studio’s content (e.g. most of filmic pop culture).

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But late Friday, the guild sent the following explanation/clarification: “SAG-AFTRA issued Halloween guidance in response to questions from content creators and members about how to support the strike during this festive season. This was meant to help them avoid promoting struck work, and it is the latest in a series of guidelines we have issued. It does not apply to anyone’s kids. We are on strike for important reasons, and have been for nearly 100 days. Our number one priority remains getting the studios back to the negotiating table so we can get a fair deal for our members, and finally put our industry back to work.”

The statement follows this Ryan Reynolds tweet, which specifically called out the kids angle: “I look forward to screaming ‘scab’ at my 8 year old all night. She’s not in the union but she needs to learn.”

And former SAG-AFTRA president Melissa Gilbert slamming the rules on Instagram: “THIS is what you guys come up with? Literally no one cares what anyone wears for Halloween. I mean, do you really think this kind of infantile stuff is going to end the strike? We look like a joke. Please tell me you’re going to make this rule go away….and go negotiate! For the love of God, people are suffering mightily and this is what you have to say…c’mon. This is the kind of silly bullshit that keeps us on strike.
‘Let’s enact a policy that makes us look petty and incompetent at the same time.”

While Mandy Moore wrote on her Instagram Stories: “Is this a joke? Come on @sagaftra. This is what’s important? We’re asking you to negotiate in good faith on our behalf. So many folks across every aspect of this industry have been sacrificing mightily for months. Get back to the table and get a fair deal so everyone can get back to work.”

The SAG-AFTRA strike is nearing its 100th day after talks broke off with studios on Saturday without a deal.

The original spookily restrictive-about-your-personal-time-with-your-friends-and-family guidelines are embedded below. “Let’s use our collective power to send a loud and clear message to our struck employers that we will not promote their content without a fair contract,” the guild stated.

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