SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher slammed for hanging out with Kim Kardashian in Italy
Fran Drescher received more backlash this week after she took a break from contract talks with major studios for a trip to Italy to rub elbows with fashion stars, including Kim Kardashian.
The 65-year-old star of The Nanny, who is now president of the SAG-AFTRA union, was pictured enjoying the glitz and glamor with the 42-year-old reality star at the Dolce & Gabbana Alta Moda show in Apulia, Italy .
SAG-AFTRA, which represents actors, journalists, singers and a host of other artists, is negotiating with just days to go before the film and television contract packages expire.
That means members are just days away from going on strike, after high-profile stars such as Jennifer Lawrence, Meryl Streep, Brendan Fraser – and even Drescher herself – signed a letter to SAG-AFTRA leadership saying they are ready and willing are to strike if necessary.
Drescher invited questions about how involved she is in the negotiations after she and Kardashian beamed from ear to ear in glamorous formal wear, including in photos the Kardashians star posted to her Instagram account.
The glamorous life: Fran Drescher, president of SAG-AFTRA, was criticized by members and critics after hanging out with Kim Kardashian at a Dolce & Gabbana show in Italy this weekend
Deadline approaches: The actress-turned-director’s union has been negotiating new contracts for actors ahead of the contract’s expiration on Thursday; seen June 29 in NYC
Drescher was pictured in a busty, strappy black dress, and her elegant dark curls framed a striking crimson color around her lips.
Kim was weighed down with a huge jeweled necklace and she sparkled in a purple off-the-shoulder dress.
“My fashion icon!” Kardashian wrote about Drescher. Always on my mood board! I seriously love this woman! The oh so beautiful @officialfrandrescher.’
Kardashian has plenty of screen experience and she recently graduated from her reality TV origins to star in the upcoming season of Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk’s anthology series American Horror Story.
The reality star did Drescher no favors when she shared another photo showing the Spinal Tap actress sandwiched between Kim and her mother Kris Jenner, while other stars including Helen Mirren, Angela Bassett and Kerry Washington joined in the festivities .
Christian Bale and Anitta were also reportedly among the guests, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
The five-day event also included a concert by legendary singer Diana Ross.
The connection to Kardashian was particularly unfortunate for Drescher, as SAG-AFTRA members have expressed solidarity with striking members of the Writers Guild of America (WGA), but Kardashian reportedly crossed a picket line to continue the American Horror story. to make.
Star power: The reality star did Drescher no favors when she shared another photo of the Spinal Tap actress sandwiched between Kim and her mom Kris Jenner, while other stars including Helen Mirren, Angela Bassett and Kerry Washington joined in the festivities
Criticism: “Unless the negotiating table moves to Italy (along with the dress code), this is a terrible look for a union president,” Fleishman In Trouble creator Taffy Brodesser-Akner said on Twitter. “Don’t get me started on her friend here”; seen June 2022 in LA
“Unless the negotiating table has moved to Italy (along with the dress code), this is a horrible look for a union president,” Fleishman In Trouble creator Taffy Brodesser-Akner said on Twitter. “Don’t get me started on her friend here.”
She added, “Some of them had cake eating vibes for the SAG-AFTRA members who marched alongside us WGA members this morning.”
Jorge Rivera, the Latinx Writers Committee deputy char for the WGA West, snapped, “Did they pass the deadline so she could attend a party in Italy?”
Many of those criticizing Drescher reposted the photo of her with Kardashian.
Sources have told THR that Drescher has not personally participated in the negotiations for weeks, though the publication notes that it is sometimes possible to participate virtually through video chat platforms.
SAG-AFTRA’s current contract expires on Wednesday evening, July 12 at 11:59 p.m
A union representative said Drescher had been in Italy for previously planned “brand ambassador work.”
“This was a commitment fully known to the negotiating committee,” they claimed. “She negotiated in person or via video conference every day. President Drescher has a physically demanding schedule in three time zones, oversees negotiations and works on site daily, managing her parents’ needs in [Florida]. She will be returning to the States and will be on site in LA tomorrow and continue to chair our negotiations.”
Get rid of it: Drescher hasn’t been to LA since she went to New York on June 29, though she might have been able to join the negotiations virtually; seen October 2022 in LA
While it’s possible she negotiated virtually, deadline also reported that Drescher hasn’t been home to LA since she flew to New York on June 29 for a Good Morning America performance.
USC professor and entertainment labor expert Steven Ross told THR that Drescher’s visit was “poor optics,” regardless of how “involved” she was in the negotiations.
“The president of every union should be there if a strike is imminent or imminent. We don’t know if she had commitments she couldn’t get out of, but the optics aren’t right,” he said.
“Today any kind of conflict like this is a war of the press and optics, so that was a misstep,” film historian Jonathan Kuntz added. “I don’t think it will have a serious impact on the negotiations. However, we should all be aware of appearances.’