CELEBRITIES SIGN LETTER CALLING FOR A CEASEFIRE IN GAZA AND ISRAEL: According to Variety, many in Hollywood have signed an open letter to President Joe Biden, calling for a ceasefire in Gaza and Israel. Stars such as Joaquin Phoenix, Cate Blanchett, Jon Stewart, Kristen Stewart, Susan Sarandon, Mahershala Ali, Riz Ahmed, Ramy Youssef, and Quinta Brunson have all signed the letter. It reads in part, “We urge your administration, and all world leaders, to honor all of the lives in the Holy Land and call for and facilitate a ceasefire without delay – an end to the bombing of Gaza, and the safe release of hostages.”
SAG-AFTRA TO RESUME TALKS WITH STUDIOS ON TUESDAY: Deadline reports that SAG-AFTRA is set to resume talks with AMPTP on Tuesday (October 24th). The actors union announced the news on Saturday (October 21st), which also happened to be the 100th day of the strike. “As we mark the 100th day of our strike, we are pleased to confirm the company executives have asked us to return to the table. Official Negotiations will resume on Tuesday, October 24th,” SAG-AFTRA wrote in a statement to members.
SAG-AFTRA CLARIFIES HALLOWEEN COSTUME RULES: According to The Hollywood Reporter, SAG-AFTRA released a statement addressing the backlash they’ve received regarding their rules for striking actors’ Halloween costumes. “SAG-AFTRA issued Halloween guidance in response to questions from content creators and members about how to support the strike during this festive season. This was meant to help them avoid promoting struck work, and it is the latest in a series of guidelines we have issued,” the union wrote on Friday (October 20th). “It does not apply to anyone’s kids. We are on strike for important reasons, and have been for nearly 100 days. Our number one priority remains getting the studios back to the negotiating table so we can get a fair deal for our members, and finally put our industry back to work.” This comes after Ryan Reynolds tweeted, “I look forward to screaming ‘scab’ at my 8 year old all night. She’s not in the union but she needs to learn,” in response to the rules. Mandy Moore spoke out against the rules on her Instagram stories as well. “Is this a joke? Come on @sagaftra. This is what’s important?” she wrote.
‘SNL’ ALUM MELANIE HUTSELL ADDRESSES MAYIM BIALIK SKETCH: Former Saturday Night Live star Melanie Hutsell addressed Mayim Bialik‘s concerns regarding a sketch Hutsell did in 1994 parodying Bialik’s sitcom Blossom, after the Jeopardy! host wrote an essay for Variety last week on the subject. “When we were preparing to do that sketch all those years ago, I was absolutely horrified that they wanted me to wear a prosthetic nose to play Mayim Bialik’s character, Blossom,” Hutsell said in a statement to Entertainment Weekly. “I knew it was wrong.” She added, “I remember so clearly that when I expressed that I did not want to wear the prosthetic nose for the sketch, I was told if I refused, I would be fired. And keep in mind, many of the people who had a hand in creating the sketch were Jewish. Although I had and have always had a strong moral compass, I didn’t have the strength to refuse to do the sketch after I was told I would be fired.”