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.

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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
philinterrupted
philinterrupted - 9/30/2023, 8:19 AM
@Oberlin4Prez - don’t join a union then.
Origame
Origame - 9/30/2023, 8:32 AM
@ShimmyShimmyYA - then why aren't you saying this to the people who publicly shamed amell for his comments? How's that not showing the union as fractured?

Or the union members shaming the likes of Drew Barrymore for continuing her talk show, even though she was following the strike rules? How's that not showing the union as a fractured group?
NegativeNerd
NegativeNerd - 9/30/2023, 9:07 AM
@ShimmyShimmyYA - you hit the nail on the head
Mugens
Mugens - 9/30/2023, 9:57 AM
@Origame - I'm sorry. What Drew tried to do was not right although I believe her heart was in the right place. Bad example to use to me, and it may well indeed be only to me, but I stand by it.
Origame
Origame - 9/30/2023, 10:31 AM
@Mugens - what makes this wrong if it's allowed by the rules of the strike?

If they didn't want this sh!t, they should've stated it in the rules of the strike.

Conan and colbert had their talk shows going during the previous strikes and no one gave them sh!t for it. So what's the problem here?
DarkArrow19
DarkArrow19 - 9/30/2023, 11:11 AM
@Oberlin4Prez - Ironic how anyone having a different opinion is frowned upon. Weird.
Origame
Origame - 9/30/2023, 11:17 AM
@DarkArrow19 - what's even funnier is the people on the other side prove your point.
ShimmyShimmyYA
ShimmyShimmyYA - 9/30/2023, 12:00 PM
@Origame - I’ve been saying that we all have been saying that , I remember explicitly saying it to you.
TheSuperMex
TheSuperMex - 9/30/2023, 12:03 PM
@Oberlin4Prez - lol you know you can criticize other people’s opinions right?
TheSuperMex
TheSuperMex - 9/30/2023, 12:05 PM
@Origame - why can’t they shame them? They are just staying their opinion on Amell and Barrymore. Using your logic you are against their free speech which makes you a hypocrite.
Origame
Origame - 9/30/2023, 12:37 PM
@ShimmyShimmyYA - got something to back that up? Because I specifically remember you defending the strikers when I called them out for this sh!t.

In fact, I don't even need to do that. You're doing exactly what they were doing.
Origame
Origame - 9/30/2023, 12:40 PM
@TheSuperMex - well first of all, shaming isn't what amell ever did to the union. He was actually perfectly respectful. All he said was he didn't believe the strike was the right thing to do.

And drew Barrymore never even said anything bad about the strike so shaming her is just completely unwarranted.

You guys insist that solidarity is the answer, yet you won't stand in solidarity when they do something you disagree with.
ShimmyShimmyYA
ShimmyShimmyYA - 9/30/2023, 12:53 PM
@Origame - lol I’m still defending the strikers tf ? I said it was stupid for him to say + he should’ve not said that shit publicly
Origame
Origame - 9/30/2023, 1:01 PM
@ShimmyShimmyYA - ...yeah. that's shaming him. Ffs, at least stand by the sh!t you're doing.
TheSuperMex
TheSuperMex - 9/30/2023, 1:35 PM
@Origame - again, stop being a hypocrite. So to you Amell can criticize them but they can’t criticize them back. You aren’t the free speech warrior you think you are.
Origame
Origame - 9/30/2023, 1:40 PM
@TheSuperMex - of course they can criticize them. I never said otherwise.

What's wrong with what O'Malley said? Why couldn't they say sh!t like this instead of insulting him and publicly shaming him when he was being perfectly respectful?

If one kid said they don't like how the pizza didnt have enough cheese, and in response another kid called him a poop head, are you really saying both kids were doing the same thing?
FinnishDude
FinnishDude - 9/30/2023, 3:08 PM
@Oberlin4Prez - And God forbid people will in return have an opinion about your opinion.
TheNewYorker
TheNewYorker - 9/30/2023, 10:25 PM
@Oberlin4Prez - [frick] unions.
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.
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