Americans, or at least some Americans, have started showing solidarity with the striking writers and actors by extending their support to SAG-AFTRA in various ways, some of which are beyond our understanding. Many citizens have called for a mass cancellation of streaming service applications like Netflix and a boycott of movies and shows.
The intention behind this call is to financially impact the film studios significantly, but it could potentially derail the ongoing negotiations and ultimately undermine the strike. A boycott would result in production houses losing money, which would further justify their current pay policies due to the lack of funds. Afraid of conceding an own goal, the unions have clarified that SAG-AFTRA has not called for any such consumer boycott and even encourages people to watch movies and shows.
Many individuals have begun mocking the irony of “Hollywood boycotting Hollywood” and have praised the supporters of the strike for doing what they could not accomplish over the past 25 years. Meanwhile, the unions have suggested alternative ways to support the strikers. These include donating directly to the strike funds, participating in protests at picket lines or rallies, and spreading accurate information about the strike. However, since all these methods are not as simple as canceling Netflix, it will be interesting to see how things unfold.
