Billy Porter says the strike has already gotten the best of him…
Porter told London’s Evening Standard,
I have to sell my house. Because we’re on strike. And I don’t know when we’re gonna go back [to work]. The life of an artist, until you make fuck-you money — which I haven’t made yet — is still check-to-check.
So to the person who said
‘we’re going to starve them out until they have to sell their apartments,’
you’ve already starved me out.”
Actors have been on strike since July 14. The Screen Actors Guild — American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) is seeking higher residuals from streaming platforms and stricter safeguards against the use of artificial intelligence, among other updates, from the studios as part of a new contract, but negotiations have stalled.
The Writers Guild of America which represents Hollywood screenwriters, has also been on strike since May 2.
Porter was promoting his new album, Black Mona Lisa, but was careful not to address specifics of his film and TV work in the interview, according to the stipulations of the strike.
Still, he blasted Disney CEO Bob Iger,
To hear Bob Iger say that our demands for a living wage are unrealistic? While he makes $78,000 a day? I don’t have any words for it, but:
fuck you.
That’s not useful, so I’ve kept my mouth shut. I haven’t engaged because I’m so enraged. I’m glad I’ve been over here. But when I go back I will join the picket lines.”
Porter is also newly single having recently split with his husband of 6 years, Adam Smith.
(Photos, YouTube; via Huffpost)
