Suits: LA star Stephen Amell recently opened up about his controversial comments regarding the SAG-AFTRA strike.
In 2023, the actor was under fire due to his remarks about the strike as he called it a "reductive negotiating tactic" and "myopic." He went on to apologize and clarified that he has unconditional support for the union and "[understands] fundamentally" why it had to happen.
Stephen Amell Reflects on His Controversial SAG-AFTRA Strike Comments
In a recent interview, Amell reflected on his controversial remarks during the SAG-AFTRA strike and admitted that he was worried that his career might be over after.
"Not everything that comes to my mind should be spoken into a microphone. I still think that striking is the nuclear option — that was the point that I was trying to make. I just think I need to be a little bit more patient," he said.
"I don’t subscribe to the whole idea of ‘You’re an actor — stay in your lane.’ But I think that I need to do a better job of really thinking about what I say publicly and the potential impact that it could have. It felt like the world was ending."
Amell continued, "To be at the eye of an internet storm like that — everything is really small, and you feel like everyone’s looking at you. I literally thought I was being side-eyed at the gym or dropping my kids off at school."
The actor also revealed that when he worked with Sean Astin, who is a member of the SAG-AFTRA national board, in a movie last year, he was advised to consider joining the board.
The incident made Amell realize that "as opposed to criticizing from the sidelines," he could be "more effective and helpful."
Stephen Amell's Next Project
Amell will next be seen in NBC's highly-anticipated Suits spinoff series Suits: LA where he will play the leading role of Ted Black.
"Behind closed doors, he’s a scared little boy, and nobody — I mean nobody — knows it. That’s not a sustainable way to live life. He’s not comfortable in his own skin," the actor described his character in the series.
While the role is not as action-packed as his previous roles such as the Green Arrow in the CW series, it's still a challenging project for him.
"The only muscle on my body that hurts from shooting this show is my brain. You wouldn’t think that you’d be as tired from five heavy, dialogue-rich scenes as you would from a day of stunts, but you are," Amell said.
"Where’s the line between ‘You’re dancing right on the edge’ and 'This could be an SNL sketch'? You have to play a character, but not play a caricature. How far do you push it?"
What do you think of Amell's remarks? Let us know in the comments!
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