Drescher Threatens SAG-AFTRA Strike Over Vaccination Mandates

SAG-AFTRA President, Fran Drescher, recently disclosed her willingness to lead a strike in 2021 over Hollywood's Covid vaccination mandates, according to a leaked email conversation. The stance came as a distinct positioning from the actress, who had been a major critic against the mandates among union leaders. Her declaration contradicts the majority sentiment of the union, as reflected in the LA local meetings. The mandates, approved by studios, guilds, and unions as part of the industry's Covid return-to-work protocols, implemented in June 2021, expired along with other protocols on May 12 this year.

Drescher's critics in the email chain include Maya Dunbar, in the race against Drescher for president, Peter Antico, running against incumbent Joely Fisher for secretary-treasurer, and actor Chuck Slavin. The contentious discourse comes at a time when both Drescher and Slavin are urging SAG-AFTRA to strike if a desirable deal can't be reached in the ongoing contract discussions with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP).

In the email, Drescher stated that she called multiple special single-item board meetings discussing Covid mandates and spent substantial time debating with the staff and board regarding the controversial topic. Yet, she added that her anti-mandate position was outnumbered, and she had to represent the board vote and not her individual stance.

Her critics accused her of not taking enough measures when public policy changed, and the CDC found no distinction between protocols for people who did and did not participate in the vaccination. They called her out on failing to conduct an emergency meeting when medical and religious exemptions weren't honored.

Now for the flavorful part of our show.

Down the line, one could say this dispute mirrors the eternal Hollywood conundrum: stars vs. scripts - or in this case, roles vs. rules. It's as though roles in Hollywood are facing a long-awaited sequel: "Vaccination Mandate: The Unvaxxed Strike Back," and we're all on the edge of our seats, popcorn at hand, waiting for the credits. Drescher, a razzle-dazzling starlet in her own right, chose not to cross the picket line of the vaccinated majority, instead filming her fight in the board room. While some could say she played her part too well, others might argue she didn't play it well enough.

The plot thickens with Dunbar stepping onto the stage, sharp as a scalpel, accusing Drescher of manipulating the National Board. This new feature causes us to wonder if this internal drama is more titanic than any Hollywood studio dared to create. Did someone say, 'sequel'? Because it seems like Dunbar and Antico, as Drescher's formidable opponents, are ready to stage a second act in this Hollywood melodrama. All meanwhile, Frazer maintains her infamous "Nanny-like" composure, brushing off the critiques with a flick of her comedy wrist, a retort in her email, and a sign-off as President Drescher.

The stakes are high - 160,000+ members to be more precise - and the plot scorching. Is this a battle of loyalties or a fight for the guild's soul? Who's the hero, and who's villain in the bids for the union's presidential seat? With Drescher, Dunbar, and Antico entangled in this melodramatic tug of war, it's almost too tempting to await the third installment: “Vaccination Mandate: Endgame."

Shakespeare once wrote, "All the world's a stage," but if the Bard were alive today, he might amend it to "All the guild's a stage, and all the presidents and candidates merely players." So grab your popcorn, folks, Hollywood isn't just on the screens; it appears it's in the guild rooms, too. Let's sit back, watch the drama unfold, and remember, no matter how intense the show gets, the curtain call is always just around the corner.