After Stephen Amell went on record on not supporting striking for SAG-AFTRA – the former Arrow actor has now surprisingly been spotted among his fellow union actors. Although The Heels star could not be among his Arrow cast members – he has made an appearance at the Warner Bros. Discovery studio’s picket line for the Actors Strike. Sadly, it has not helped in making amends with his fans.
The SAG-AFTRA strike is expected to proceed indefinitely and although the WGA resumed their negotiations as of Friday, there has been no clear indication yet that AMPTP would agree to their proposal. While actors have continued to flock to picket lines to show their solidarity – some like Stephen Amell (And Zachary Levi) stirred controversy by criticizing the union strike.
Amell has already clarified his statement and even revealed on August 1, he would soon engage in the Actors Strike, “When you see me on a picket line please don’t whip any hard fruit.” But standing by his words has portrayed a different perspective with many suggesting, “Y’all bullied this man into supporting workers rights” @Woody3830 posted on X/Twitter.
To fans, Stephen Amell’s participation in the SAG-AFTRA picket lines seems like a damage control effort from his publicist. Even with support from the likes of Marc Guggenheim – the former Arrow star has only received more backlash with many mocking his appearance, “the court of public opinion sentenced him to community service” as user @NickTheMage98 noted on X.
Stephen Amell, Michael Shannon, Sam Rockwell, Leslie Bibb & more hit the picket line in NYC today #SAGAFTRAStrike
View the full gallery here: https://t.co/KDOLc3hdyu
📸 John Nacion/Getty Images pic.twitter.com/y7VpxFFpan
— Deadline Hollywood (@DEADLINE) August 11, 2023
Stephen's publicist must've seen that interview and told him to act like he got some sense! https://t.co/GJaKONNlT4 pic.twitter.com/OB4Nf3URv4
— The Third King 👑 (@thirdking0208) August 11, 2023
Why does he look like he’s held at gunpoint? https://t.co/rXz5DFKrZm
— Hernandy (@Pollos_Hernandy) August 11, 2023
Are we sure this photo wasn’t taken out of context? https://t.co/zpb8M6jErX
— Jeff Sneider (@TheInSneider) August 11, 2023
“You’ve got some pain behind those eyes.” https://t.co/MHVg4QpcDZ pic.twitter.com/Kc2CFN6xez
— Richard Newby (@RICHARDLNEWBY) August 11, 2023
Stephen Amell at the SAG-AFTRA picket line strike after saying “I do not support striking.” pic.twitter.com/JE4SUgPBiZ
— BLURAYANGEL 🦇 (@blurayangel) August 11, 2023
The court of public opinion sentenced him to community service fr😭💀 https://t.co/jKbVkX8NnZ
— Jake✡️🎥 Supports WGA and SAG-AFTRA (@NickTheMage98) August 11, 2023
Y’all bullied this man into supporting workers rights https://t.co/PqqM3Zr63Q
— TM£TA (@Woody3930) August 12, 2023
That man looks like he's been sentenced to community service lmao https://t.co/gaPMfKHm7x
— MT (@MasterTainment) August 11, 2023
Aside from Amell, other Hollywood faces like Michael Shannon, Sam Rockwell and Leslie Bibb were spotted at the NYC picket line. However, Stephen was not seen among his Arrow co-stars a the Burbank picket.
Marc Guggenheim said Stephen Amell sent an encouraging message that “he has our back” although he could not be with them. The Arrow reunion picket included Willa Holland, Katie Cassidy, Brandon Routh, and Caity Lotz can be seen posing in the photos below. Kirk Acevedo was also spotted, the actor was one of the co-stars to openly critique Amell’s comment.
In four years Stephen Amell will be going to be on some knock off Joe Rogan podcast and say he was pressured into publicly walking a picket line and he regrets putting image over values. https://t.co/Ts4F6hLyLc
— Cor – SAG and WGA Strong (@xoxoCorinne) August 11, 2023
I thought they weren't allowed to act right now. https://t.co/J3h0jPO2bf
— Andy (@AndyNemmity) August 11, 2023
💀💀💀💀💀 bros agent sent him an urgent text https://t.co/KszHIsPjS7
— John Stewart Green Lantern (@LanternJS) August 11, 2023
Lmaooo that shirt is brand new, his publicist was probably like “get your ass out there.” https://t.co/GhE2flrUNl
— Reyna Cervantes (@Jfcdoomblade) August 12, 2023
probably got a very loud phone call from his manager 😭 https://t.co/vkYajB1Id6
— Wendell (@RhodeToLove) August 11, 2023
Stephen Amell after meeting with his agent https://t.co/eMKFEYePzo pic.twitter.com/EAPZRqu2vh
— Kickin' Back in the Pool Watchin' Paul (@Waffleman_) August 11, 2023
they bullied his ass into participation. when i tell you i am crying https://t.co/DXGj2iZyrl
— jay (@OuterJayven) August 11, 2023
"My PR person forced me to come here" https://t.co/TEM736WSyE
— Deacon Nahkapukki (@Nahkapukki) August 12, 2023
Writers and Actors standing strong in solidarity!!
We will not capitulate!👊🏽@WGAEast @WGAWest @sagaftra #Arrow #Strike#KidVicious🔪 pic.twitter.com/UlGvoE8AYU
— KID VICIOUS🔪 (@kirkacevedo) August 11, 2023
Amell also faced backlash for discussing his Starz show, Heels during the same event where he said striking was a “reductive negotiating tactic.” The actor, to some extent, blamed his “misconstrued” response on his inability to promote Heels season 2, “I’m simply sad that we don’t have a chance to celebrate a show that all of us figuratively and I literally, broke my back for.”
