Brian Cox and Simon Pegg among British stars rallying in support of Hollywood strike: ‘AI is taking our jobs’
Actors including Brian Cox, Simon Pegg and Andy Serkis have told Sky News of their fears about AI as they rallied in support of the Hollywood strike.
Dozens of British stars turned out to London’s Leicester Square on Friday for the demonstration, which was organised by British acting union Equity in solidarity with performers in the US.
It comes after 160,000 members of SAG-AFTRA in the US walked out last week in protest over pay and conditions – including concerns over the growing use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the industry.
The action has brought Hollywood to a virtual standstill, forcing many film and TV productions to shut down, and marks the first time in more than 60 years that both actors and writers have gone on strike.
Members of the Writers Guild of America union launched a separate walkout two months ago.
Equity actors cannot legally take part in the strikes in the UK – but can if they are working in the US and are also SAG-AFTRA members. However, the walkouts have already had a knock-on effect on productions in Britain.
Succession star Brian Cox said the issues involved were of concern for performers around the world.
He told Sky News: “This is a major strike that’s happening in the States and we need to support them.
“We’ll be under siege next, we’re already under siege, particularly with artificial intelligence, and it’s something that has to be stopped and nipped in the bud.”
The crowd in Leicester Square, London
Mr Cox also called for greater regulation of the industry in the UK – or as he put it: “Legislation that says ‘AI f*** off'”.
The Crown star Imelda Staunton said pay was also a major issue for struggling performers in the industry, but said technological advancements had added to anxiety across the profession.
“The issues that are being raised about streaming and AI are all issues that really need addressing.
“This is a global problem, this isn’t America or England, it’s all over,” she told Sky News.
Read more:
US actors’ strike: What does it mean for the film and TV industry?
Succession star Brian Cox says Hollywood strike could last until end of 2023
Other stars at the rally included Rob Delaney, Jim Carter, Naomie Harris and Penelope Wilton.
Some protesters carried signs reading: “Leave AI to Sci-fi,” “Write to Strike” and “This Barbie’s last residual was $0.02”.
Shaun of the Dead writer and star Simon Pegg, who is a member of both SAG-AFTRA and Equity, described the industrial action as a “tipping point” after years of concern over pay and the impact of streaming services such as Netflix.
Actor Andy Serkis said he was hopeful the strike would end in victory for workers
He told Sky News: “AI is worrying too, because we’re looking at being replaced in some ways.
“And they want to scan the faces of background artists and then use their image in perpetuity, which is incredibly unreasonable, because they could use them for anything.
“We have to be compensated and we have to have some say in how it’s used.
“I don’t want to turn up in an advert for something I disagree with, some fossil fuel company, because I’m fundamentally opposed to them. I want to be able to hang on to my image, and voice, and know where it’s going.”
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Uncharted territory for Hollywood
Hayley Atwell, who stars in the new release Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning, said the industry needed a “course correct” as bosses had failed to keep up with rapid technological advancements.
“We have the existential threat of AI taking human jobs, that means that it’s a more precarious situation than ever before,” she told Sky News.
“This is a time to adapt to that and regulate it, so that people who are creating content can continue to do so and make a fair living wage from it.”
She added: “We’re striking and it’s absolutely the right thing to do. I’m 100% in support of it. [But] it’s awful because it’s a last resort for everyone. We don’t want to strike but we’ve been stonewalled.”
Lord of the Rings star Andy Serkis, who described himself as “one of the most scanned actors on the planet”, said he was hopeful strikers in the US – and actors across the world – would eventually win their fight.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Zoe Saldana backs actors’ strike
He told Sky News: “I think there’s unquestionably going to be a victory for SAG, for the Writer’s Guild, for Equity, it’s going to come out positive. They are going to hold on this time.”
Serkis also said he had grave concerns over the future of AI, adding: “Artists are becoming severely undervalued. We think actors going on strike is a bit of a joke, [but] when the pandemic was happening, what was everyone doing for two years inside? They were watching shows…
“It’s a very important job. It’s a service and you just want to be paid a reasonable wage.”
Industry body the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, which represents major film and TV studios in the US, says it has offered better terms and conditions, while it also accused SAG-AFTRA of walking away from negotiations.
The union has rejected the claims and said its members would remain on strike indefinitely until concessions were made.
The impasse has prompted fears the dispute could drag on and delay the release of major films and TV programmes later this year, while also causing disruption to major industry events such as the 75th Emmy TV awards, which is scheduled to be held in September.
The BBC has said it regrets not pulling the live stream of Bob Vylan’s “unacceptable” Glastonbury set – as Ofcom said the broadcaster has “questions to answer”.
The corporation has faced mounting criticism over airing the performance on Glastonbury‘s West Holts Stage, during which the rap-punk duo’s frontman Bobby Vylan led chants of: “Free, free Palestine” and: “Death, death to the IDF (Israel Defence Forces)”.
Sir Keir Starmer condemned the remarks as “appalling hate speech”, while festival organiser Emily Eavis said they “crossed a line” – and media watchdog Ofcom has now also released a statement raising concerns.
This morning, a spokesperson for the prime minister did not directly answer when asked if he still had confidence in BBC director-general Tim Davie.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
What is the Glastonbury controversy?
Footage from Bob Vylan’s set on Saturday showed some of the crowd joining in, as the group performed in front of a screen that said Israel’s actions in Gaza amount to “genocide”.
Afterwards, the BBC said there had been a warning on screen about potential “strong and discriminatory language”, but described the comments as “deeply offensive”.
On Monday, a spokesperson released an updated statement, saying the comments were antisemitic and the performance should have been taken off air.
“The BBC respects freedom of expression but stands firmly against incitement to violence,” the statement said. “The antisemitic sentiments expressed by Bob Vylan were utterly unacceptable and have no place on our airwaves. We welcome Glastonbury’s condemnation of the performance.”
Pic: PA
A judgement to issue a warning on screen while streaming online was in line with editorial guidelines, the spokesperson added, and the performance has not been made available to view on demand.
“The team were dealing with a live situation but with hindsight we should have pulled the stream during the performance. We regret this did not happen.
“In light of this weekend, we will look at our guidance around live events so we can be sure teams are clear on when it is acceptable to keep output on air.”
Read more:
Who are Bob Vylan?
British-Israeli soldier killed while fighting in Gaza
Trump calls for ceasefire deal
An Ofcom spokesperson said: “We are very concerned about the live stream of this performance, and the BBC clearly has questions to answer.
“We have been speaking to the BBC over the weekend and we are obtaining further information as a matter of urgency, including what procedures were in place to ensure compliance with its own editorial guidelines.”
In a statement shared on Instagram on Sunday, Bobby Vylan said: “Teaching our children to speak up for the change they want and need is the only way that we make this world a better place.
“As we grow older and our fire starts to possibly dim under the suffocation of adult life and all its responsibilities, it is incredibly important that we encourage and inspire future generations to pick up the torch that was passed to us.”
The latest developments follows severe condemnation from the prime minister, who said there was “no excuse for this kind of appalling hate speech”.
Mo Chara of Kneecap at Glastonbury. Pic: Reuters
Sir Keir also referenced a previous statement that Belfast rap group Kneecap, who were on stage after Bob Vylan, should have been removed from the line-up after one member was charged with a terrorism offence.
“I said that Kneecap should not be given a platform and that goes for any other performers making threats or inciting violence,” he said.
Ms Eavis, whose father Michael co-founded the festival, said in a statement that Bob Vylan had “very much crossed a line”.
She added: “Their chants very much crossed a line and we are urgently reminding everyone involved in the production of the festival that there is no place at Glastonbury for antisemitism, hate speech or incitement to violence.”
The Israeli embassy posted on X in the hours after the set, saying it was “deeply disturbed by the inflammatory and hateful rhetoric”.
It said the slogan used “advocates for the dismantling of the State of Israel”.
In a separate post on X on Sunday, Israel’s foreign ministry published graphic footage following the attack by Hamas on the Nova festival in Israel on 7 October 2023, and the Campaign Against Antisemitism (CAA) said it would be formally complaining to the BBC over its “outrageous decision” to broadcast the performance.
Speaking to Sky News’ Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips on behalf of the government, Health Secretary Wes Streeting described the chant as “appalling”, especially at a music festival – “when there were Israelis at a similar music festival who were kidnapped, murdered, raped, and in some cases still held captive”.
He added that while “there’s no justification for inciting violence against Israelis… the way in which Israel’s conducting this war has made it extremely difficult for Israel’s allies around the world to stand by and justify”.
Lucy McMullin, who was in the crowd for Bob Vylan, told Sky News: “When there’s children and civilians being murdered and starved, then I think it’s important that people are speaking out on these issues.
“However, inciting more death and violence is not the way to do it.”
Police have said they are reviewing footage of both the Bob Vylan and Kneecap sets to assess whether any criminal offences were committed.
Speaking to Sky News earlier today, women and equalities minister Baroness Jacqui Smith said the comments “clearly” over-stepped the mark.
“I’m surprised that the BBC carried on broadcasting them live when it was obvious what was happening.”
-
Sports3 years ago‘Storybook stuff’: Inside the night Bryce Harper sent the Phillies to the World Series
-
Sports1 year agoStory injured on diving stop, exits Red Sox game
-
Sports2 years agoGame 1 of WS least-watched in recorded history
-
Sports2 years agoMLB Rank 2023: Ranking baseball’s top 100 players
-
Sports4 years ago
Team Europe easily wins 4th straight Laver Cup
-
Environment2 years agoJapan and South Korea have a lot at stake in a free and open South China Sea
-
Sports2 years agoButton battles heat exhaustion in NASCAR debut
-
Environment2 years agoGame-changing Lectric XPedition launched as affordable electric cargo bike