Warner Bros/Discovery Boss David Zaslav met with ‘pay your writers’ chant during commencement speech
The Warner Bros/Discovery CEO was booed and met with chants of ‘pay your writers’ while speaking during Boston University’s commencement ceremony Sunday.
Video from the graduation shows Zaslav, 63, speaking to the large crowd while loud boos and jeers ring out from the crowd throughout his 20-minute speech.
One clip in which Zaslav – a Boston University law school alum in 1985 – is introduced shows the crowd screaming as some faculty clap behind him.
Overhead, a plane carrying a banner reading ‘DAVID ZASLAV – PAY YOUR WRITERS’ circled over the commencement ceremony throughout the event.
The pushback to the WBD CEO’s appearance comes as the Hollywood Writer’s Guild of America strike enters its third week with productive talks yet to take place.
Warner Bros/Discovery CEO was booed and met with chants of ‘pay your writers’ while speaking during Boston University’s commencement ceremony on Sunday
Video from the graduation shows Zaslav, 63, speaking to the large crowd while loud boos and jeers ring out from the crowd throughout his 20-minute speech
Overhead, a plane carrying a banner reading ‘DAVID ZASLAV: PAY YOUR WRITERS’ circled over the commencement ceremony throughout the event
The boos immediately broke out Sunday morning at Nickerson Field on BU’s campus when University President Robert A. Brown introduced Zaslav.
Brown said of the WBD CEO that he has a “passion for documenting and sharing the human story on a global scale,” which was immediately met with backlash.
Along with “pay your writers,” attendees in the venue could be heard shouting out “shut up, Zaslav,” “no contract, no speech,” and other messages of opposition.
One woman who appeared to be receiving a degree during the ceremony held up a sign reading ‘Ew, David,’ referencing a popular line from television’s ‘Schitt’s Creek.’
A person in the crowd held up a sign reading ‘Did AI write this too?’
Another woman could be seen with a ‘Zaslav, pay your writers. I stand with the WGA,’ message on the top of her graduation cap.
Zaslav had to repeatedly stop his speech and wait until the chants and boos died down to continue on.
Outside of the stadium, a picket line formed with dozens holding signs and marching around the perimeter in solidarity with the striking writers.
The boos immediately broke out Sunday morning at Nickerson Field on BU’s campus when University P resident Robert A. Brown introduced Zaslav
Along with ‘pay your writers,’ attendees in the venue could be heard shouting out ‘shup up, Zaslav,’ ‘no contract, no speech,’ and other messages of opposition.
At one point in his speech, Zaslav joked about giving students advice for life which received an enormous reaction comprised of boos and other jeers.
Another time he discussed his time as a lawyer and mentioned the ‘good money’ he made, which sparked angry chants in response.
The WBD CEO never mentioned the strike during his speech but spoke to those booing him towards the end, saying that he looks forward to seeing their work.
‘I hope to see all of you—and I mean all of you—long the way. The journey of life. There’s nothing better,’ he said while pointing out at the crowd.
His address comes as the strike enters its third week with discussions still seemingly at a stalemate.
Production on shows filmed in New York, Los Angeles and other cities around the world have come to a virtual standstill since the strike began on May 1.
Currently, most shows have yet to feel the repercussions of the strike but come fall that may change drastically.
At this time, all late night TV shows including, ‘The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon’ and ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live’ have suspended filming due to the disruption.
‘Saturday Night Live,’ which was set to end its season Saturday, closed out early and Pete Davidson’s hosting date was canceled due to the strike.
At one point in his speech, Zaslav joked about giving students advice for life which received an enormous reaction comprised of boos and other jeers.
Production on shows filmed in New York, Los Angeles, and other cities around the world have come to a virtual standstill since the strike began on May 1.
At this time, all late night TV shows including ‘The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon’ and ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live’ have suspended filming due to the disruption.
The WGA has asked for several things in their contract negotiations with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers that have yet to be secured.
Among the main concerns is that of residuals – the checks that writers receive when their show or movie re-airs on television – and their decreasing dollar amount.
The writers say that in the era of streaming, many of them are unable to get by or support themselves in this profession, even as some studios see record profits.
Another key issue on the table is the use of AI in television and film writing.
The WGA is asking for protections against artificial intelligence, which could eventually put thousands of jobs in jeopardy.