Matt Walsh visits the IMDb Portrait Studio at SXSW 2023 on March 10, 2023.Photo:Corey Nickols/Getty
Corey Nickols/Getty
Matt Walshwon’t be putting on his dancing shoes just yet.
Less than a week before the premiere ofDancing with the Stars, theVeepstar, 58, announced he will no longer be taking part in the ABC dance competition amid theWriters Guild of America(WGA) andSAG-AFTRA strikes.
PEOPLE has reached out to ABC for comment.
Walsh, who is also a member of the WGA, was the only star to miss theSept. 13 cast announcementonGood Morning America. He was set to compete withJamie Lynn Spears,Mauricio Umansky,Jason Mraz,Alyson Hannigan,Mira Sorvino,Adrian Peterson,Barry Williams,Tyson Beckford,Xochitl Gomez,Harry Jowsey,Lele Pons,Ariana MadixandCharity Lawsonfor the mirrorball trophy.
Walsh’s decision comes amid calls for the series to delay production amid the ongoing Hollywood strikes. However, in the hours after his announcement was made, SAG-AFTRA made a statement backing actors who chose to participate on the show’s upcoming season.
“Our members appearing on ‘Dancing with the Stars’ are working under the Network Code agreement, which is a non-struck contract. They are required to go to work, are not in violation of SAG-AFTRA strike rules, and we support them in fulfilling their contractual obligations,” a SAG-AFTRA spokesperson said in a statement, perVariety.
“The program is a SAG-AFTRA non-dramatic production under a separate agreement that is not subject to the union’s strike order,” the statement continues. “The majority of our members on ‘Dancing with the Stars’ had contractual obligations to the show prior to the strike. Many are under option agreements that require them to return to the show if the producer exercises their option which the producer has done.”
“It is important to recognize that SAG-AFTRA is fighting against the studios and not members who are required to go to work every day under other union contracts or personal service agreements,” the spokesperson concluded. “We stand with our union siblings across the industry as we also recognize our obligations under federal labor law.”
Ahead of Thursday’s news, formerDWTSpro dancerCheryl Burkeshared that she believes the show should not move forward until after the strikes are finishing, tellingVariety,“At the end of the day, we have to stick together because that’s the only way to ever make any significant change.”
Cheryl Burke attends the United Ukrainian Ballet performance of “Giselle” at the Segerstrom Center For The Arts on June 29, 2023.Corine Solberg/Getty
Corine Solberg/Getty
“I don’t think it’s gonna be good for the show, to be quite honest, in the long run,” she continued. “I understand what they’re thinking and I get it. It’s a business, but there is no business without the rest of the business… I think they should hold tight. I think we need to stand as one. We need to unite for real and not just say we’re united.”
David Slack, a picketing writer, sharedhis thoughts on X(formerly Twitter) about the return of the show, saying, “Writers have been on strike for 139 days and counting. Most shows are shut down. By providing studios with a scab-written show, it makes the strike take longer, keeping every other crew in Hollywood out of work.”
Striking WGA (Writers Guild of America) workers picket outside Paramount Studios on July 12, 2023.Mario Tama/Getty
Mario Tama/Getty
He continued, “I know you’re all under contract & this is a tough situation. But if Drew Barrymore can step up and do the right thing alone, I hope you can do this together in solidarity.”
Dancing with the Stars— which is currently still set to premiere on Tuesday — has one WGA writer on staff who will return to work when the strike concludes, according toVariety.
The show’s contestant video packages will not mention any of their former SAG-AFTRA projects, whichcannot be promoted during the strike, according to the outlet.
DWTSis the latest show to come under fire amid the Hollywood strikes.The Drew Barrymore Show,The Talk,The Jennifer Hudson ShowandReal Time with Bill Maherhave all announced they will be delaying their season premieres following backlash for returning amid the ongoing WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes.
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Season 32 ofDancing with the Starspremieres Tuesday, Sept. 26 on ABC, and will stream on Disney+ and Hulu.
source: people.com
