Matt Walsh and Koko Iwasaki on ‘Dancing with the Stars’.Photo:Andrew Eccles/ABC
Andrew Eccles/ABC
Matt Walshis heading back to the ballroom one day before theDancing with the Starsseason 32 premiere.
“With the hopeful resolution and vote with the WGA,Dancing with the Starswould no longer be a struck show therefore all cast would be able to return. This includes WGA member Matt Walsh,” a rep for Walsh told PEOPLE on Monday.
Actor Matt Walsh.Getty Images
ABC also confirmedDancing with the Stars“will premiere as originally scheduled” on Tuesday.
On Thursday, Walsh, who is also a member of the WGA, announced he would betaking a breakfrom the competition amid theWriters Guild of AmericaandSAG-AFTRA strikes.
Walsh — who is partnered with pro dancer Koko Iwasaki — is set to compete againstJamie Lynn Spears,Mauricio Umansky,Jason Mraz,Alyson Hannigan,Mira Sorvino,Adrian Peterson,Barry Williams,Tyson Beckford,Xochitl Gomez,Harry Jowsey,Lele Pons,Ariana MadixandCharity Lawsonfor the mirrorball trophy.
The actor’s decision to take “a pause” came amid calls for the series to delay production before the WGA reached an agreement on Sunday. However, in the hours after his announcement was made, SAG-AFTRA made a statement backing actors who chose to participate on the show’s upcoming season.
“Our members appearing on ‘Dancing with the Stars’ are working under the Network Code agreement, which is a non-struck contract. They are required to go to work, are not in violation of SAG-AFTRA strike rules, and we support them in fulfilling their contractual obligations,” a SAG-AFTRA spokesperson said in a statement, perVariety.
“The program is a SAG-AFTRA non-dramatic production under a separate agreement that is not subject to the union’s strike order,” the statement continues. “The majority of our members on ‘Dancing with the Stars’ had contractual obligations to the show prior to the strike. Many are under option agreements that require them to return to the show if the producer exercises their option which the producer has done.”
“It is important to recognize that SAG-AFTRA is fighting against the studios and not members who are required to go to work every day under other union contracts or personal service agreements,” the spokesperson concluded. “We stand with our union siblings across the industry as we also recognize our obligations under federal labor law.”
WGA picket in front of Paramount Studio gate in Los Angeles, California on May 4, 2023. (.Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times
Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times
Whilethe SAG-AFTRA strikeis ongoing, the WGA announced on Sunday it had reached a tentative deal with Hollywood studios to end the writers' strike.
“We have reached a tentative agreement on a new 2023 MBA, which is to say an agreement in principle on all deal points, subject to drafting final contract language,” the guild told its members on Sunday in areleasesent to PEOPLE.
“We can say, with great pride, that this deal is exceptional — with meaningful gains and protections for writers in every sector of the membership,” the guild added.
Specific details of the WGA’s tentative agreement were not disclosed, but the guild said in its release that a summary would be provided in advance of the membership ratification votes.
The strike, which first started on May 2, has lasted more than 140 days as the union representing entertainment writers working across film, television, news and online media picketed all across the country in demand of better pay as well as stipulations over other key points, including staffing commitments and duration of employment.
The new deal was struck with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) — which represents Netflix, Amazon, Apple, Disney, Warner Bros. Discovery, NBC Universal, Paramount and Sony — after the two groups met face-to-face Wednesday, and again virtually on Sunday.
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Season 32 ofDancing with the Starspremieres Tuesday, Sept. 26 on ABC, and will stream on Disney+ and Hulu.
source: people.com
