Arrow star Stephen Amell says he put his foot in his mouth when he made prior statements about the SAG-AFTRA strike being "myopic" and a "reductive negotiating tactic."
Speaking to TMZ, he also confirmed that his recent appearance on the picket line in NYC won't be his last."I’ll be on it again," Amell matter-of-factly stated.
In the TMZ video, the former Casey Jones (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows) actor seemed very regretful about all the controversy his earlier comments generated.
"I think when I spoke the first time, I didn’t choose my words as carefully as I should. I love acting, I love film, and I love television, and I know how much going on strike hurts. Not just the actors, but all the people who work on film and television."
Amell went on to list film crews, caterers, grips, and the financial impact film shoots have on surrounding businesses as his source of initial frustration about the strike.
"I always say that I support my union—when I said that I don’t support the strike, that was the wrong choice of words. Plain and simple. I put my foot in my mouth trying to take ownership of it."
Amell also confirmed that after his initial comments, SAG-AFTRA leadership contacted him and educated him on the importance of the strike and that their decision to enact the strike wasn't done lightly.
The SAG-AFTRA strike started on July 14 and shows no signs of slowing down.
Currently, the AMPTP is busy negotiating with the WGA, who have been on strike since May 02. The AMPTP and WGA have recently met for several days in a row and it looks as if a deal could be imminent.
It's thought that once a deal is struck with the WGA, the AMPTP will begin negotiations with SAG.
In a show of solidarity, the WGA previously indicated that even if they reach a deal, they'll remain on strike in a show of solidarity with SAG.