SAG-AFTRA To ‘Directly Engage’ With Pro Wrestlers To Secure The Protections They Deserve
Photo Credit: WWE
SAG-AFTRA President Gabrielle Carteris says wrestlers deserve certain protections in their line of work and she’s going to start the dialogue to ensure it happens.
Carteris issued the following statement to Spectrum Sports’ Jon Alba in response to her initial comments showing support for Zelina Vega after she was released by WWE last week.
“Wrestling is as much about media as it is sports, and we are going to directly engage with members of this profession to help find ways for them to protect themselves.
As more people reinvest in unions, and as more working people are harassed by employers who don’t want to protect them, SAG-AFTRA is committed to doing what we can to help professional wrestlers secure the protections they deserve.”
SAG-AFTRA President Gabrielle Carteris
Alba noted that Carteris’ statement was not specific to WWE and applied to professional wrestling in general.
WWE released Zelina Vega on Friday, a move believed to be related to her continued use of third-party platforms like Twitch. WWE recently stopped talent from profiting off of third-party platforms such as Twitch and Cameo. Vega was critical of the move at the time and WWE noted that those in violation of its new policy were subject to termination. After she learned of her release on Friday, Vega tweeted in support of unions.
Related: Zelina Vega Thanks Fans & WWE During Twitch Stream: ‘I’m Not Mad At Anyone, I’m Thankful’