Stephen Amell was concerned his comments about the SAG-AFTRA strike would negatively impact his career in the long term.
The actor, 43, was asked about the controversy during a Thursday, February 13, profile for Variety, where he admitted he was “absolutely worried” about the fallout.
“I’m part of a team, and there are a lot of people counting on me,” he explained about the responsibility of leading a show. “I could stand to be more thoughtful.”
Amell stood by his initial commentary though, adding, “I still think that striking is the nuclear option. That is the point that I was trying to make. I just think I need to be a little bit more patient.”
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While reflecting on the drama, Amell acknowledged that he needed to “do a better job of really thinking about what I say publicly and the potential impact it could have.” He recalled feeling like “the world was ending” when his comments were misunderstood.
“To be at the eye of an internet storm like that … everything is really small, and you feel like everyone’s looking at you,” he continued. “I literally thought I was being side-eyed at the gym or dropping my kids off at school.”
While filming Little Lorraine with Sean Astin last summer, Amell recalled thinking he was “public enemy No. 1.” Astin, however, suggested that Amell join him as a member of the SAG-AFTRA national board.
Amell told Variety that he learned that “as opposed to criticizing from the sidelines,” he could be “more effective and helpful.”
Amell made headlines in July 2023 for questioning how SAG-AFTRA addressed its labor dispute with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers. (He subsequently landed the role of Ted Black in Suits LA six months later.)
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“I feel like I’m insulated in Hollywood, because that’s where I live … [but] I feel like a lot of people in this room aren’t aware of the strike,” Amell told fans at GalaxyCon. “I support my union, I do. And I stand with them. I do not support striking. I don’t. I think that it is a reductive negotiating tactic. I find the entire thing incredibly frustrating. I think that the thinking as it pertains to shows like [Heels], the show that I’m on that premiered last night, I think it’s myopic.”
Amell ultimately clarified his perspective one month later.
“Understandably, there has been a lot of reaction to the comments I made this weekend about our strike. To ensure there is no misunderstanding about my thoughts and intentions I’m providing what I actually said and clarity/context to ensure my feelings aren’t unintentionally misinterpreted,” he wrote via Instagram in August 2023. “We all know soundbites can be taken out of context and I have too much respect for my fellow union members to not clarify the record.”
The Arrow alum asserted that he is on the same side as his fellow union members. “This doesn’t need much clarity: My support is unconditional and I stand with them,” he added. “My off the cuff use of the word ‘support’ is clearly contradictory to my true feelings and my emphatic statement that I stand with my union. Of course I don’t like striking. Nobody does. But we have to do what we have to do.”
Amell continued: “In full context: I’m an actor and I was speaking extemporaneously for over an hour. I emote, but I certainly don’t think these issues are simple. Our leadership has an incredibly complicated job and I am grateful for all that they do. Despite some of my terrible early acting work, I assure you, I’m not a robot. From an intellectual perspective, I understand why we are striking, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t emotionally frustrating on many levels for all involved.”
