In a recent development, Ryan Murphy, a prominent producer and director, has threatened legal action against Warren Leight, a former Law & Order: SVU showrunner and playwright, who is also a member of the Writers Guild of America (WGA). This dispute arose when Leight tweeted allegations that crew members on Murphy’s American Horror Story had claimed they would be “blackballed in Murphy-land” if they refused to cross the Writers Guild’s picket lines. Murphy’s spokesperson vehemently denied these accusations at the time, describing them as “absolute nonsense” and “categorically false.”
Following the exchange, Murphy’s attorney, Craig Emanuel, sent a letter to the WGA, threatening litigation against Leight. In response, the union’s leadership held a meeting with Leight, who subsequently deleted his tweet and issued an apology and retraction, acknowledging that his initial allegations were “unsubstantiated” and “completely false and inaccurate.” However, it appears that the dispute has since caused some tension within the union, particularly among the strike captains.
The WGA East officers, including Michael Winship, Lisa Takeuchi Cullen, and Chris Kyle, sent a memo to the strike captains, addressing the threatened litigation and its aftermath. According to sources, the meeting between the union leadership and the captains became contentious, with many captains expressing their frustration and demanding an explanation for Leight’s removal from his positions as co-chair of the Strike Rules Compliance Committee and as a strike captain. Leight, who had been hailed as the East Coast’s “Air Traffic Controller” for his leadership role in the so-called Rapid Response Team, declined to comment on the situation.
It is worth noting that, out of the four scripted TV series that are still in production on the East Coast, three are produced by Murphy: American Horror Story, American Sports Story, and the episodic anthology American Horror Stories. While Murphy is a member of the WGA West, he is also a producer and director, and he is permitted to continue working as long as he does not perform any writing tasks. However, there have been reports of Murphy crossing the WGA’s picket lines in New York, although no concrete evidence has been provided to support these claims.
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In response to Murphy’s actions, the WGA has stated that they will continue to picket his shows, and their Strike Rules Compliance Committee will thoroughly investigate any leads regarding potential violations. If Murphy is found to have violated the strike rules, he could face suspension, expulsion from the union, monetary fines, or censure. However, it is worth mentioning that during the 2007-08 writers strike, several WGA members who were alleged to have violated the strike rules, including Jay Leno, were brought before a trial committee and ultimately cleared of any wrongdoing.
This internal conflict within the union comes at a time when news of Murphy’s negotiations with Disney to return to the studio with a lucrative overall deal has emerged. Murphy, known for being one of the industry’s most powerful showrunners, had previously signed a $300 million deal with Netflix, which has now expired. While the details of his negotiations with Disney remain undisclosed, this development adds another layer of complexity to the ongoing dispute between Murphy and the WGA.
In their memo to the strike captains, the WGA officers urged them to remain focused on their fight against the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), emphasizing that their primary adversary is not fellow union members but the industry alliance. They also stressed the importance of unity within the union and advised captains to refrain from venting their frustrations publicly or making accusations against other members on social media. The WGA had planned a meeting with the East Coast captains to discuss morale, but it was reportedly canceled.
As the situation unfolds, it remains to be seen how the WGA and its members will navigate this internal conflict while maintaining their stance against the AMPTP. The outcome of the ongoing investigations into potential rule violations and the resolution of the tension within the union will undoubtedly shape the course of the writers’ strike and its impact on the industry.
