Longtime acclaimed screenwriter and director Ryan Murphy is under fire for allegedly filing a lawsuit against a former WGA strike captain amid the ongoing WGA Strike. Murphy currently has three different shows in production on in New York, which will all be halted by the now combined WGA and SAG-AFTRA strike. The writer-director has long been criticized for alleged anti-union practices on set, and now striking writers and actors are sharing a piece of their minds.
The allegations were born after former WGA East Coast Strike Captain Warren Leight tweeted that crew members on Murphy’s American Horror Story had told him that “they’ll be blackballed in Murphy-land” if they don’t cross the Writers Guild’s picket lines. At the time of the tweet, a representative for the powerful show runner told the Hollywood Reporter that the allegations were “categorically false.”
Welcome to the strike Ryan Murphy!
— Tucker Cawley (@TuckerCawley1) July 13, 2023
Murphy has created a number of smash hit television shows. Notably, these were “American Horror Story”, “Glee,” “Scream Queens,” “Monster: The Jeffery Dahmer Story”, “Pose”, “The Politician”, and more. Fans of the long running shows are additionally expressing disappointment at the allegations presented against Murphy.
nonono ryan is the one who need to be SUED
— Reda (@MayJailer0621) July 6, 2023
The three productions that will be affected by the ongoing double strike are “American Horror Stories: American Sports Story”, “American Horror Stories” and “American Horror Story.” The productions are three of four left in production at all on the east coast.
Social Media Reactions
The memes from Ryan Murphy’s many productions are pouring in. Many are comparing his alleged threat to sue the strike captain to a reaction that “Glee” character Sue Sylvester would have.
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ryan murphy right now pic.twitter.com/Ohj62DAxGQ
— webNTI (@NtiAning) July 13, 2023
Others feel that Murphy will no longer have a case now that SAG-AFTRA is striking. The union includes numerous film and television stars, and will likely be the final nail in the coffin on his last three productions.
Ryan Murphy can be stopped if we get men who look like this to go on strike https://t.co/ao2IadL9rS pic.twitter.com/HVB4h1jhDb
— Ben Crew (@BenjaminCrew1) July 6, 2023
Murphy is known for his occasionally horrific and outlandish storylines. Notably, his Netflix production “Monster: The Jeffery Dahmer Story” sparked controversy upon its 2022 release. Some argued that he wrote the role of the notorious serial killer to be a sexualized version of the true events, and others feel that the production should not have been made at all. Evan Peters starred as the onscreen killer, and several real-life surviving family members of his victims were depicted without their consent.
https://twitter.com/pilotviruet/status/1677091361571368960?s=20
Because of the powerful show runner’s several creative controversies, some joke that he does not have room to talk amid the tense situation in Hollywood.
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✨ Ohh boo fuckin hoo ✨ pic.twitter.com/ecSm7o98rq
— ???????????????????? ???????????? ???????????????????????? (@beastboywonder1) July 7, 2023
Others expressed disappointment at Murphy’s stance on the strikes, given that he began his career as a young writer.
It’s a shame that folks like Ryan Murphy and Tyler Perry who began their careers as writers and are essentially that at their core have so fully embraced the management philosophy and don’t look out for the other creatives in their industry.
— Lisa Bee (@leebee4life) July 13, 2023
A WGA East member confirmed that as of last night, a Murphy project was actively shooting scenes in New York City.
on the final eve of SAG negotiations, if you come by the corner of 45th&6th and make some noises, we are disrupting what might be the last ryan murphy shoot for a long time. come yell! bring a whistle! drive by playing loud music! lean on your horn! #WGAstrong
— liz hynes (@anticapitalizm) July 13, 2023
Murphy has not commented on the SAG-AFTRA strike, or on his pursuit of the lawsuit against the WGA East Strike Captain.
