There is growing discontent among Hollywood stars. Actors are speaking their own truths, regarding the question ‘to be or not to be vaccinated’, that has been topping the studios’ list, too.
The coronavirus epidemic has paralyzed even the biggest film and TV crews for several months from March 2020. Since then, filming has continued, but not in a way like before. In Hollywood, there is no general rule requiring all actors to be vaccinated. It is therefore up to the individual producer to decide how strict the Covid-19 rules are. However, in most places people are expected to be vaccinated and if someone refuses to be so, they are simply fired. Otherwise, unpleasant situations can arise, as in the case of the new Paramount+ series.
It was first reported in the Daily Mail that Miles Teller, the former star of “Whiplash”, refused to be vaccinated and refused a coronavirus test during the filming of “The Offer”. There is a huge anticipation for the movie, as it is based on the production of the classic “The Godfather”. ű
The young Hollywood star, and especially the crew, faced a stroke of bad luck when it was discovered that the actor had caught the COVID-19, infecting several people, and work was reportedly halted for three weeks, costing the studio $6 million. Miles Teller claims that he has been vaccinated since, but it is not known for how long.
A similar situation has occurred with the Disney+ series “Mighty Ducks: Game Changers”, a sequel to the sports film “Mighty Ducks”. Emilio Estevez, who played ice hockey coach Gordon Bombay, has left the show and will not be seen in the second season. The dispute between ABC and Estevez arose because the company would have expected the star to be vaccinated, just like the rest of the cast.
In the end, ABC decided not to renew Emilio Estevez‘s contract. The exit of the star who has played the character in three “Mighty Ducks” movies, is a major blow to the production. Although the films received a mixed reception, they have already developed a loyal fan base. Emilio Estevez later told Deadline that he is not against vaccines, he just can’t stand bullying.
Typically, any project’s main actors need to be vaccinated, mostly because they can’t wear masks while performing in scenes, the Hollywood Reporter said.
The group of skeptics include Letitia Wright, filming Marvel’s “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” and Rob Schneider, shooting Netflix’s sports comedy “Home Team”. Both have shared their anti-vaccine positions on social media, while Wright has expressed similar views on the set of “Black Panther”’s Atlanta production, the Hollywood Reporter claimed.
Wright has faced negative reactions for her posts, according to Newsweek. In December, the British actress tweeted out a video about a London minister who questioned the legitimacy of the COVID-19 vaccines, expressed skepticism about climate change, and made transphobic comments.
Wright subsequently issued a statement saying she didn’t intend to “hurt anyone” but only wanted to “raise concerns about what we are putting into our bodies,” Newsweek said. She later deleted her Twitter and Instagram accounts and quietly parted ways with her entire U.S. team of representatives.
Pro-vaccine stars have been far more vocal, with George Clooney saying it’s “stupid” that some of his colleagues are denigrating COVID vaccines, according to Hollywood Reporter.
“It’s stupid because for more than a lifetime, every generation in our country has been asked to sacrifice something for the safety of their fellow man — get shot, fight Nazis…” Clooney said. “All that anyone’s being asked here is to get a shot in the arm and put on a mask. Grow up. Get something done.”
