The Screen Actors Guild (SAG-AFTRA) is in full swing and has issued a warning to all social media influencers: Don’t cross the picket line. The guidelines for the actors’ strike include future talents as well, including those who aren’t current union members.
As outlined in the SAG-AFTRA Strike Notice And Order, “Any non-member seeking future membership in SAG-AFTRA who performs covered services for a struck company during the strike will not be admitted into membership in SAG-AFTRA.”
This rule does not apply to influencers who have already signed promotional agreements prior to the strike. As reported by Deadline, a number of social media influencers who recently appeared at Disney’s world premiere for The Haunted Mansion would be excluded from the rule for that one event due to prior obligations.
“If any influencer is already under contract to promote struck work, then the influencer should fulfill their work obligation,” says the SAG-AFTRA website.
But from here on out, any influencer who participates in promotional work or anything outlined in the Strike Notice as part of the strike will be banned from future membership in the SAG-AFTRA. This includes posting about struck work on social media regardless of payment.
It also limits what an influencer can share at conventions and other publicity services. Personal appearances, interviews, fan expos, festivals, panels, podcast appearances, and more are listed in the Strike Notice. This will heavily affect the upcoming Comic-Con held in San Diego later this week. Influencers are still allowed to go, they just can’t post about it even in the capacity of being a fan.
Influencers are still allowed to participate in commercial brand partnerships, though cross-promotional campaigns with struck employers are not allowed unless specific circumstances are met.
For a full list of details and how to verify your influencer work is allowed, check out the FAQs For Influencers page on the SAG-AFTRA website.