NEW YORK (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) – Actor Billy Porter spoke up about the ongoing actors' strike during the Black Theatre United inaugural Gala held at the Ziegfeld Ballroom on Monday.
The BTU Gala, themed "A Salute to Broadway Legends: Past, Present, and Future," celebrated the influence of Black culture on Broadway. The organization is dedicated to closing the wealth gap in America and fostering a more inclusive society. One of their key initiatives focuses on supporting Black excellence in theater.
Porter, a Tony Award winner, expressed frustration and disappointment with the current talks while walking the red carpet at the BTU gala.
“It’s enraging and disgusting,” Porter told 1010 WINS. “When we speak about how disgusting and enraging it is, we're the ones that are wrong. We are at a point where we can't move forward without them, and they can't without us. I don’t understand what the fight is really about."
Emphasizing the need for fair compensation, Porter added, “We just want a living wage. I’m not mad about their earnings; I’m mad that they are blocking me from doing the same."
The strike involves SAG-AFTRA, representing over 150,000 actors in Hollywood, and the AMPTP, a trade group for major studios. The two parties have recently made progress in their negotiations, allegedly reaching tentative agreements on key aspects of a potential deal.
SAG-AFTRA informed its members that they had covered all open proposals during the weekend discussions, including those concerning Artificial Intelligence.
The union and the studios planned to work independently before resuming joint talks at the Sherman Oaks negotiating table.
Highlighting the disparity in earnings despite his success, Porter also mentioned, “I'm winning awards for Disney, and I'm getting six-cent checks. It's unacceptable.”