Rich Guy Bob Iger Is Disturbed By The Poors

SAG/AFTRA, the union representing screen actors, will likely vote to strike today. They will join the WGA on the ever-growing picket lines. Response from the higher-ups in Hollywood has ranged from cynical to out of touch to objectively shitty. Most of the figuratively heavy lifting regarding tone-deaf responses has been from David Zaslav (I say figuratively because I’d be surprised if that man lifted his fork). However, on this day of an impending strike, Bob Iger took the war of words to a new low.

This week, Iger appeared on CNBC. Showing up on that network when you’re trying to dissuade workers from striking is already hilarious. When CNBC isn’t trying to tell you how to make some fat cash, they’re airing hours and hours of Shark Tank reruns. Their catchphrase is literally, “Get Yours!” Though that sounds a lot better coming out of Stacey Keach. They are the only ones who would host a human monocle like Iger.

While appearing on Squawk Box, which I promise is a real show, Iger said that writers and actors were not being “realistic” with their demands. He referred to the strikes as “disturbing,” particularly because the movie and television businesses are still facing the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. It would seem that Bob thinks only big companies have been affected by the deadly pandemic.

In Iger’s defense, his salary, after bonuses, is currently in the high $20 million range. In 2022, Variety referred to that as a “pay cut.” Yes, that contract was extended through 2026 yesterday, but the dude is hurting! There will be no glass bottom for his yacht. Poor old Bob will have to visit an island he rents instead of one that he owns. His caviar will be stored for a day before being consumed as opposed to sucking from a fish plucked fresh from the sea (I assume)!

On the other hand, Iger can f*** right off. We live in an age where we can hear directly from the writers and actors who are suffering. Instead of reading the trades, we can go right to the source. We know that Alex O’Keefe, a writer for The Bear, attended the Emmy’s with a negative bank account. We see P-Valley star Brandee Evans open residual checks that are worth less than the paper on which they are printed. Those stories are what should disturb Bob Iger.

I honestly don’t know what the AMPTP is thinking at this point. Every day they find a new way to shove their $20,000 loafers in their mouths. They come across as comic book villains, but even The Joker is self-aware. These people do not care about the art that they produce or the people who make it. They care about their bottom line. They want to be rich and unbothered by the lowly unwashed. What they don’t understand is that the people have the power. So, Bob Iger may think that these strikes are disturbing, but guess what, Bob? You ain’t seen shit yet.