Actress Anne Hathaway, known for her iconic role in "The Devil Wears Prada," has made a bold and groundbreaking gesture in support of the striking Condé Nast employees.
The strike, which began on Tuesday, has gained attention not only for its significant turnout but also for Hathaway's unexpected involvement.
Variety reports that Hathaway walked off the set of a Vanity Fair photoshoot upon learning about the 24-hour strike. Sources revealed that while getting her hair and makeup done, the actress's team was notified of the impending strike by the Screen Actors Guild‐American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA). The union recommended that she respect the decision of the striking employees.
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“They hadn’t even started taking photos yet,” a source told Variety. “Once Anne was made aware of what was going on, she just got up from hair and makeup and left.”
The strike, which involves nearly 400 employees from various Condé Nast brands, was initiated in response to the company's layoff plan announced in November 2023. Popular brands affected include Vanity Fair, Vogue, GQ, Allure, Condé Nast Entertainment, Architectural Digest, Glamour, Self, Teen Vogue, and more. The protest outside the company's New York City office coincided with the broadcast of the 2024 Oscar nominations.
Footage from the rally quickly went viral on social media, featuring a step-and-repeat, red carpet, and signs bearing slogans like "Layoffs are out of fashion" and "Jobs 4 employees? Groundbreaking." Protestors could be heard chanting, "Bosses wear Prada, workers get nada" and "Say it loud, say it clear, winter’s extra cold this year,” a clever play on Vogue Editor-in-Chief Anna Wintour's name.
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Ben Dewey, vice chair of the CNE unit of the Condé Nast Union, expressed the purpose of the strike in a statement obtained by CNN: “The last nearly three months of fighting for our co-workers on the company’s layoff list has led us to today. Our 24-hour walkout is about standing firmly behind our colleagues and showing Condé Nast management in the clearest possible way that we will not tolerate their disrespect at the bargaining table over these layoffs. It is time to start bargaining in good faith with us.”
Condé Nast CEO Roger Lynch had announced in November 2023 that over 300 employees would be laid off, leading to the ongoing discontent among the company's workforce.
