Stephen Amell Reflected on His Tone Deaf SAG Strike Condemnation

The WGA and SAG/AFTRA strike lasted for most of 2023 and it felt way longer while it was happening. Times were hard, people were stressed, and the industry’s future felt uncertain (though to be fair, it still does). There was no time or patience for any dissent. Support for the cause had to hold strong, lest those in the executive suites smell weakness and try to capitalize. So, people were (rightfully) quick to jump on anyone who so much as lamented the strike in public or, for instance, called it “myopic” and “reductive” in front of a room full of adoring fans.

That’s what Stephen Amell did. And people were mad about it, as they should have been! Amell starred in an incredibly popular superhero show for most of a decade. He has an active fan base that loves him even if he yells at his wife and it gets him kicked off a plane. The man is a big voice with a big microphone and complaining about the strikes was a bad look. He tried to walk back his comments, but that rang pretty hollow. Now that, in his eyes, he’s out of the woods, Amell is talking about his misstep again.

The actor will be leading an LA-based reboot of Suits and sat down for an extended interview with Variety. He used that time to reflect on his controversial comments. “Not everything that comes to my mind should be spoken into a microphone,” he explained, which is at least a reflective way to look at it, but he still couldn’t help doubling down. “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.” Stephen! Yes, it is a high-stakes option, but that’s the friggin point!

Few actors have been blessed with a multi-year leading role on a network show. Most do not have that luxury. So, unifying in a strike is their best option, and support from people like Amell, who are more well-off, is not only important but necessary for success. While Amell does seem (kind of) remorseful for his comments, it’s not just because he feels he did wrong. The pressure from folks in his everyday life seems to have had an effect on the actor as well.

“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,” the actor reasonably explained. “It felt like the world was ending. 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.”

It wasn’t remorse or empathy. Amell didn’t have a full-on change of heart. Twas paranoia that changed his mind and honestly, I’ll take it. I hope people were side-eying the actor. It seems that was the only way he was going to fall in line.