Dwayne Johnson, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Ryan Reynolds and 12 More Celebrities Donate Over $15,000,000 While Actors Fight For Their Rights

As the SAG-AFTRA actors’ strike enters its fourth week this Friday, the financial strain on many professionals is becoming clear. However, some of the industry’s biggest stars, such as Dwayne Johnson, Jennifer Lopez and Ryan Reynolds, should be financially secure during this time as they can rely on additional brand deals and private deals.

Hollywood star Dwayne Johnson

Surprisingly, both JLo and Reynolds have joined a growing list of celebrity actors who have generously donated seven figures in support of the SAG-AFTRA strikers.

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High-profile actors make generous contributions to ongoing strikes

According to a report by SAG-AFTRA, her foundation’s Emergency Financial Assistance Program has managed to raise an impressive sum of over $15 million in recent weeks. The donations were substantial, with many celebrities donating $1 million or more.

WGA and SAG-AFTRA are on strike

Notable celebrities who have donated include George and Amal Clooney, Matt and Luciana Damon, Leonardo DiCaprio, Hugh Jackman and Deborra-lee Furness, Dwayne Johnson, Nicole Kidman, Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck, Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively, and Julia Roberts, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Meryl Streep, and Oprah Winfrey.

In all, a notable 15 stakeholders have generously donated significant sums to support SAG-AFTRA during this challenging time for the industry. Her honorable gesture is to reach into her own pocket to support fellow actors who may not have lucrative deals with major film studios or are making back-end profits from box office hits. Plenty of actors rely on Hollywood for a living, but they’re not nearly as wealthy as these A-list stars.

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SAG-AFTRA President Calls on Industry to Contribute

While SAG-AFTRA publicly thanks generous actors like Leonardo DiCaprio and Julia Roberts for their significant donations, Foundation President Courtney B. Vance commented on the news:

“The entertainment industry is in crisis and the SAG-AFTRA Foundation is currently processing more than 30 times our usual number of requests for emergency assistance… In the last week alone we have received 400 requests. Our emergency financial assistance program is designed to ensure artists in need don’t lose their homes, have the ability to pay for utility services, buy groceries for their families, buy life-saving prescriptions, cover medical bills, and more. It’s a daunting challenge, but we’re determined to get through this moment.”

The SAG AFTRA strikes

Vance also announced that Meryl Streep and George Clooney, who have spoken publicly about their participation in the strikes, are staunch supporters of the foundation and hold leadership roles on the Actors Council. He emphasized that both had not only donated $1 million each, but had also taken the initiative to mobilize others by issuing numerous calls to action to encourage generous donations.

While these actors are no doubt doing their part in support of the SAG-AFTRA actors’ strike, it may not be reasonable to assume that they will join the picket line.

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Source: cinema blend