ARROW Star Stephen Amell's HEELS Showrunner Had A Few Words For Actor After Recent Strike Comments

ARROW Star Stephen Amell's HEELS Showrunner Had A Few Words For Actor After Recent Strike Comments

Last month, Arrow star Stephen Amell found himself in hot water after revealing that he wasn't in full support of the SAG-AFTRA strike, and it's now come to light that his Heels showrunner had a few words.

By MarkCassidy - Sep 30, 2023 08:09 AM EST
Filed Under: Arrow

Early last month, Arrow star Stephen Amell became the highest-profile actor to speak out against the SAG-AFTRA strike, and his comments led to a significant amount of backlash from others in the industry, including some of his former Arrowverse cast-mates.

“I support my union, I do, and I stand with them, but I do not support striking, I don’t," Amell said during an appearance at Galaxycon in Raleigh, NC. "I think it is a reductive negotiating tactic, and I find the entire thing incredibly frustrating. And I think the thinking as it pertains to shows like the show that I’m on [Heels], that premiered last night, I think it’s myopic.”

Amell would later attempt to clarify his comments and "ensure that his feelings aren’t unintentionally misinterpreted," but his lengthy statement didn't exactly have the desired effect.

Heels, the popular wrestling drama series Amell was frustrated about not being able to promote, has now been cancelled by Starz after two seasons, and showrunner Mike O'Malley revealed that he called his star up after his comments went public to make him aware of how much his anti-strike sentiment was "going to distract from the hard work" that was being done.

"I called Stephen and I spoke to him about it," O'Malley tells EW. "What he was trying to talk about is that he loved the show, and he had an incredible pride in the show. We knew that [his comments] were going to distract from the hard work that the people in both the WGA, of which I'm a member, and SAG-AFTRA, were doing. And I knew that immediately because I had been on the picket line. When I heard and I called him up, I said, 'Stephen, man, we all got to stand together.' He got it immediately."

O'Malley went on to note that he does genuinely believe Amell simply "put his foot in his mouth" at the time.

"I just think it was an unfortunate moment; I genuinely think that he put his foot in his mouth. He felt bad about it. My initial reaction was just like, 'Ah man, I know how this is going to play, and I've got to talk to him about it because I don't think he meant it to come across the way that it did.' I think he was basically saying was what a lot of people were saying, which was that they were frustrated that they couldn't work. But I know where his heart is, and his heart is standing with his union, as he said."

Whether you happen to buy O'Malley's explanation or not, some feel that it might be a case of "damage done" when it comes to Amell and his future career prospects.

ARROW Star Katie Cassidy Was Crushed By Decision To Kill Black Canary; Believes Her Firing Was Political
Related:

ARROW Star Katie Cassidy Was "Crushed" By Decision To Kill Black Canary; Believes Her Firing Was "Political"

May The 4th Be With You - Lucasfilm Releases New Montage Video To Mark STAR WARS Day
Recommended For You:

May The 4th Be With You - Lucasfilm Releases New Montage Video To Mark STAR WARS Day

DISCLAIMER: As a user generated site and platform, ComicBookMovie.com is protected under the DMCA (Digital Millenium Copyright Act) and "Safe Harbor" provisions.

This post was submitted by a user who has agreed to our Terms of Service and Community Guidelines. ComicBookMovie.com will disable users who knowingly commit plagiarism, piracy, trademark or copyright infringement. Please CONTACT US for expeditious removal of copyrighted/trademarked content. CLICK HERE to learn more about our copyright and trademark policies.

Note that ComicBookMovie.com, and/or the user who contributed this post, may earn commissions or revenue through clicks or purchases made through any third-party links contained within the content above.

1 2
HashTagSwagg
HashTagSwagg - 9/30/2023, 8:08 AM
Oberlin4Prez
Oberlin4Prez - 9/30/2023, 8:09 AM
Because God forbid anyone have a differing op opinion on how things should be handled.
Origame
Origame - 9/30/2023, 8:11 AM
@Oberlin4Prez - ?si=DksAKHLLu-INOuZx
ShimmyShimmyYA
ShimmyShimmyYA - 9/30/2023, 8:17 AM
@Oberlin4Prez - Jesus Christ you’re a [frick]ing idiot. Bring up your different opinions in the internal union meetings not in public forums that show the opposition you’re a fractured group
MosquitoFarmer
MosquitoFarmer - 9/30/2023, 8:14 AM
DalekCraigWasson
DalekCraigWasson - 9/30/2023, 8:55 AM
Anyone remember Mike O'Malley from Guts? Do do do do you have it? GUTS!
RedEyeJedi5
RedEyeJedi5 - 9/30/2023, 10:07 AM
@DalekCraigWasson - "lets go to Mo with the results and leaderboard, Mo"
TheVisionary25
TheVisionary25 - 9/30/2023, 9:11 AM
As much as I like Amell , dude’s put his foot in his mouth a few times before this too so might be best if he just stop taking in public forums & social media all together since he obviously can’t communicate his thoughts across well at times (which I get).

Anyway , sucks about Heels cancellation because I had heard & seen nothing but good things about the show which made me want to watch it but oh well.

I hope it does find a new home and I can then finally watch it as someone who is a pro wrestling fan.

TheVandalore
TheVandalore - 9/30/2023, 10:13 AM
@TheVisionary25 - do you remember when people just disagreed with someone, rather than telling them not to speak in public anymore? I remember. I remember when I disagreed with someone, I'd tell them to shut up or stop talking, but it was in jest. I was never genuinely of the mind they no longer should have the ability to speak publicly, nor that they should actually heed my suggestion. Y'all now days genuinely think you can convince someone to stop expressing their opinions in public because you didn't like it. People today 😂
TheVisionary25
TheVisionary25 - 9/30/2023, 10:31 AM
@TheVandalore - fair enough haha but given some of his controversies in the past , atleast he should think a bit before speaking

Trust me , I know one can say things off the cuff that don’t come out the way you intended but it seems to be a somewhat recurring issue with him that maybe requires some self introspection atleast.
MuadDib
MuadDib - 10/1/2023, 1:13 AM
@TheVisionary25 - Here’s hoping Heels gets picked up by another Network if that’s possible. Although I wasn’t feeling that 2nd season finale, the over all show was a good one I thought and I was looking forward to a continuation of the general storyline which seemed like a slow burn towards the DWL becoming successful.

Fingers crossed it gets picked up
ObserverIO
ObserverIO - 9/30/2023, 9:35 AM
Yeah we all gotta stand together and let the studios pull a fast one on us.

Just sign on the dotted line and writers will be pressured into using AI on every single project from now until the end of Hollywood.
Spideyyeg
Spideyyeg - 9/30/2023, 9:46 AM
Everyone has accepted his explanation. If 2 or 3 people that are part of the strike has why can't the writers of this page do it? That's the difference between REAL journalists and wannabes. They create this narratives just to cancel everybody.
slickrickdesigns
slickrickdesigns - 9/30/2023, 10:03 AM
Imagine the conversation started like
GetsugaTensho22
GetsugaTensho22 - 9/30/2023, 10:07 AM
It’s a damn cult full of Hollywood bullies.

ObserverIO
ObserverIO - 9/30/2023, 11:03 AM
@GetsugaTensho22 - The age of public apologies on social media and 'clarification' of comments is a [frick]ing embarassment to all who value honesty.
Origame
Origame - 9/30/2023, 11:19 AM
@GetsugaTensho22 - I prefer comparing them to the borg from star trek.
TheShape9859
TheShape9859 - 9/30/2023, 10:24 AM
No, he believes what he believes and was pressured into saying otherwise. That's not cool.
bobevanz
bobevanz - 9/30/2023, 10:41 AM
Starz is the worst, I'll never forgive them for American God's. Season one was a perfect adaptation, then the following seasons changed to much, then it was canceled without seeing the ending! [frick] STARZ
DarkArrow19
DarkArrow19 - 9/30/2023, 11:10 AM
Remember when people didn’t get cancelled for having a MORAL opinion that differed from A MAJORITY and not THE MAJORITY. Those were the days.
Origame
Origame - 9/30/2023, 11:23 AM
@DarkArrow19 - I can guarantee the union with the car manufacturers wouldn't pull this sh!t. One of the reasons I support them over the writers and actors.

That and they have much more legitimate grievances.

Like did you know starting employees were given $15 per hour, forced 70 hour weeks, no benefits, and no possibility for advancement? Really puts into perspective the $9,000 per week but only maybe 2 weeks per year of available work complaints.
1 2
View Recorder