© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: David Zaslav arrives at the TIME 100 Gala to celebrate the 100 most influential people in the world at TIME magazine in New York, US, June 8, 2022. REUTERS/Caitlin Ochess
(Reuters) – Warner Bros. Discovery (NASDAQ:) CEO David Zaslav was booed by students after taking the stage at Boston University to accept his honorary degree and deliver a commencement speech for 2023, amid an ongoing strike by film and TV writers over pay, show Videos that appeared on social media.
The Hollywood Reporter first reported the incident on Sunday. Boston University did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.
Thousands of Writers Guild of America members went on strike earlier in May after the union failed to reach an agreement with Walt. Disney (NYSE: Co), Netflix Inc (NASDAQ:) and other media companies in exchange for higher salaries and guarantees about the use of artificial intelligence in the era of broadcast television.
Zaslav, an alumnus of the school, was repeatedly disturbed by angry cheers and boos from Boston University students, including shouts of “we don’t want you here” and “pay your book,” the report said.
The report added that the Writers Guild of America said earlier that it would hold the ceremony when Boston University announced that Zaslav would deliver the opening speech upon graduation.
The writers’ strike disrupted production of the nightly shows and some of the TV series, but some filming continues.
The last WGA strike in 2007 and 2008 lasted 100 days. The measure cost California’s economy an estimated $2.1 billion as production was halted and out-of-work writers, actors, and producers slashed spending.