Dancing with the Stars contestants Alyson Hannigan and Mira Sorvino are facing mounting pressure to do like Matt Walsh and quit the ABC show in solidarity with the ongoing Writers Guild of America (WGA) strike.
The Veep actor, 37 — who is a member of the WGA — left rehearsals Thursday morning, just days before the launch of season 32 on Tuesday, stating he would not return until “an agreement has been reached with the union.”
The move has increased pressure on fellow Hollywood stars Mira, 55, and Alyson, 49, to pull out, with people taking to their social media accounts to accuse them of crossing the picket line.
“Alyson, please don’t cross the picket line for this show. It hurts the people fighting for you and all workers,” one person pleaded on Instagram under Alyson’s post of her training with her dance partner Sasha Farber.
Alyson Hannigan is facing mounting pressure to quit Dancing with the Stars before the series launches on Tuesday (September 26).
Union members are also calling on Oscar winner Mira Sorvino to withdraw from the ABC show
Another said: ‘This show is a WGA show, it’s so disappointing to see you cross this picket line and scab.’
A third added: ‘You’re taking part in a great show. Please do not.’
Addressing both of them, someone wrote on It is best for the strike as more businesses are closed. So I think #mirasorvino #alysonhannigan is doing the right thing.”
Dancing with the Stars is a WGA show that employs one union member writer.
The show picked up on Wednesday, with 25 people outside the LA rehearsal room specifically calling on Matt, Alyson and Mira to quit in solidarity.
The strikers waved a series of signs, including one that read “Matt Walsh doesn’t dance like a scab!” WGA picks up Dancing with the Stars and BBC Studios Los Angeles, while another reads “Mira Sorvino Don’t Cross the Picket Line.”
Oscar winner Mira – a member of SAG-AFTRA – previously emphasized that her place in this year’s line-up did not violate strike rules.
How I Met Your Mother actress Alyson, pictured with her dance partner Sasha Farber, has been criticized online for her participation
Her Instagram page is the target of many people begging her to do the “right thing” by retiring from DWTS
Others have taken to X, formerly known as Twitter, to call for Alyson and Mira’s departure
Veep actor Matt Walsh left rehearsals Thursday morning, a day after the studios were selected
Matt explained in a statement that he is taking a ‘break’ from the league ‘until an agreement is reached with WGA’
“No, we are allowed to do reality, unscripted, competition or documentary shows,” she tweeted. “It’s a different contract.”
An insider claimed that the demonstrations outside the studios – coupled with the ongoing strikes – caused chaos behind the scenes, with show bosses rushing to come up with solutions, including finding potential celebrity replacements, to ensure filming can continue could always go on.
“Everything is on the table, and it’s going to be a very long week and weekend,” the source told DailyMail.com.
“Discussions about replacements have started and if replacements need to be made it could be a problem so close to the start of the show.
“But the show has made changes in the past when it comes to last-minute changes dating back to when Christie Brinkley couldn’t do the show and her daughter ended up taking her place.
Sound of Freedom actress Mira – pictured with her dance partner Gleb Savchenko – is a member of SAG-AFTRA
Mira previously emphasized that her place in the line-up did not violate the strike rules
‘But a problem that producers also see is that no one wants to participate in the show just to get pissed off. It’s a tense situation.’
They added that Matt had been in discussions with show bosses about the possibility of donating his fee to the WGA before ultimately deciding to pull out altogether.
While discussing possible plans for the first live show, they continued: “To avoid any difficult situations, knowing the show is live, the show will really look at the audience that shows up and vet their audience to make sure it are not protesters.
“They have also considered not having an audience in week one or an audience of people who are family members and friends to avoid any kind of disruption, like a few years ago with Ryan Lochte. Whatever happens, safety will be at an all-time high.”
Matt quit the hit show on Thursday, when he issued a statement confirming he would be “taking a break” from training and filming until a WGA deal is reached.
On Wednesday, attention was paid to the ABC competition show, with protesters calling out Matt as well as Mira and Alyson
WGA forwards are demanding that the trio quit the series before Tuesday’s debut
“I am taking a break from Dancing with the Stars until an agreement is reached with WGA,” he wrote in a statement shared on Instagram.
“I was excited to be on the show and did so under the impression that it was not a WGA show and was under a different agreement.
‘When I was told this morning by my union, the WGA, that it was considered strike work, I walked out of rehearsal.
‘I always support my union members from the WGA, SAG and DGA. In addition to our union artists, I am sensitive to the many people affected by the strike and I hope for a quick and fair resolution, and to one day be able to work again with all the wonderful people I met at DWTS who tolerated my dancing. ‘
He was praised online, including by TV writer David Slack, who urged fellow contestants Alyson, Mira, Alfonso Ribeiro, Julianne Hough, Derek Hough and Jason Mrazto to follow suit.
Hours before Matt confirmed his departure, he expressed his excitement about the show in a video shared to the official Dancing with the Stars Instagram account.
In a video with his professional dance partner Koko Iwasaki, 26, he could be seen nodding his head as she raved: “You guys, you gotta pay attention Matt! I’m so impressed, he’s the best.’
WGA – which represents 11,500 screenwriters – has been on strike since May 2 over an ongoing labor dispute with the Alliance of Motion Pictures.
SAG-AFTRA – the Screen Actors Guild American Federation of Television and Radio Artists – joined the industrial action on July 14. It is the first time since 1960 that both unions have gone on strike together.
Negotiations over WGA contract talks resumed on Wednesday, with reports that the Hollywood studios are nearing an agreement to end the strike after an “encouraging” face-to-face meeting.
Earlier this week, Drew Barrymore announced she would pause the return of her talk show after heavy criticism of her lack of solidarity.