'Shazam' star Zachary Levi says his feedback about strike guidelines being 'so dumb' had been 'taken out of context'

• Zachary Levi responded after feedback he made concerning the SAG-AFTRA strike guidelines acquired backlash.
• Levi stated his phrases had been “taken out of context and he “totally” helps the union, the WGA, and the strike. 
• Levi not too long ago stated it is “so dumb” that, per strike guidelines, he is not permitted to speak about previous roles.

“Shazam” star Zachary Levi reacted after feedback he not too long ago made relating to the SAG-AFTRA strike acquired backlash on-line. 

“It is come to my consideration that an offhand comment I made in jest final weekend is being taken out of context,” Levi stated in an announcement shared with The Hollywood Reporter, Folks journal, and Vainness Truthful on Friday. “So let me be very clear. I totally help my union, the WGA, and the strike.”

He continued: “I stay an outspoken critic of the exploitative system that us artists are topic to work in since I began my journey on this enterprise 25 years in the past. This strike is critical to guard ourselves, our writers, and all these working in manufacturing who make the trade transfer.”

“However we additionally can not overlook our followers throughout this strike,” Levi stated. “Followers that spend their cash and power touring far distances to speak with us about our work meaning a lot to them, we must always be capable of interact. Our enterprise exists and succeeds due to the followers, and I believe it is crucial we admire them for his or her help of our careers.”

SAG-AFTRA members joined the Writers Guild of America (WGA), who’ve been on strike since Could, on the picket traces on July 14 after failing to achieve a good take care of the Alliance of Movement Image and Tv Producers (AMPTP), which represents the studios and streamers, over TV, theatrical, and streaming work. 

This marked the primary time in 53 years that actors and writers had been on strike collectively in opposition to Hollywood. 

Whereas on strike, actors displaying solidarity with the union will not be permitted to attend premieres, festivals, or award reveals, all of that are thought-about types of publicity. Additionally they aren’t allowed to debate previous tasks. 

This led to a joke made by Levi whereas appearing at Comedian-Con Manchester final week. Addressing followers, Levi stated that he was restricted in what he might focus on on the occasion. 

“I am not allowed to speak about — that is so dumb — I am not allowed to speak about any of my earlier work,” Levi stated in a viral clip posted by the TikTok person @moviemaniacs.

“I am not allowed to speak about motion pictures that I could also be a superhero in. I am not allowed to speak about TV reveals that I could have been a nerd who labored at a Greatest Purchase. I am not allowed to speak about any animated princess motion pictures that I used to be unbelievable in — as one of the best prince ever!” Levi continued, referencing his roles within the “Shazam” motion pictures, “Chuck,” and “Tangled.”

“I am not allowed to speak about these issues,” he stated. 

Zevi’s “so dumb” comment was extensively criticized. Nonetheless, the actor beforehand voiced his help for his union throughout a latest Instagram livestream. 

However across the begin of the actors’ strike, Levi took to Twitter to voice his frustration over a number of the guidelines in place, which might stop members from exploring alternate revenue choices rather than withholding their labor.   

“@sagaftra ought to reassess a few of their stipulations relating to actors monetizing earlier work that DOESN’T profit the studios, like podcasts & conventions,” he said. “These are ESSENTIAL supplementary revenue sources for SO many individuals.”

In one other tweet posted in response to a dialogue relating to appearances at conventions, Levi stated that the strike is “solely imagined to disrupt the studios, not the writers/actors.”

“To stifle their capacity to help themselves in a approach that does not profit the studio AT ALL is antithetical to your complete state of affairs, which is meant to be about defending & supporting the artists,” he stated.