'Pay Your Writers': Students Protest Against Warner Bros. Discovery CEO At Boston University

Boston University students and protesters voiced their concerns against David Zaslav, president and CEO of Warner Bros Discovery Inc WBD, during the university's commencement address on Sunday.

What Happened: As Zaslav took the stage for his address, several students turned their backs and shouted, "pay your writers," some students even booed during Zaslav's speech.

Meanwhile, outside Nickerson Field, about a hundred protesters picketed in solidarity with the Hollywood writers' strike, chanting "No wages, no pages," according to the Associated Press.

During the ceremony, an airplane flew overhead with a banner that read, “David Zaslav — pay your writers.”

Responding to the protests, Zaslav, a Boston University law school alum, issued a statement saying, “I am grateful to my alma mater, Boston University, for inviting me to be part of today’s commencement and for giving me an honorary degree, and, as I have often said, I am immensely supportive of writers and hope the strike is resolved soon and in a way that they feel recognizes their value.”

Also Read: Hollywood Writers' Strike Hits HBO's 'The Last of Us' Season 2

Why It Matters: The protests represent the unrest stemming from the ongoing Hollywood writers' strike. Around 11,500 members of the Writers Guild for America stopped working in early May due to broken contract negotiations, seeking improved terms such as higher minimum pay, more writers per show, and shorter exclusive contracts. The dispute marks the first writers' strike in 15 years, highlighting the impact of streaming on the industry.

Kim Caramele, a renowned writer and producer, was among the protesters. She said, “The writers being here today can help show the students that wealth is different than good,” the AP reported.

Now Read: ChatGPT's Advice To Striking Hollywood Writers: Don't Be Afraid, Trust Me

This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

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