During the 2026 Actor Awards held in Los Angeles, Seth Rogen openly criticized the Writers Guild of America West (WGA West) following their cancellation of the upcoming awards ceremony. The event, originally scheduled for March 8, was called off amid an ongoing strike led by the union’s staff, prompting Rogen to highlight financial issues within the guild during his acceptance speech.
Rogen, who won the award for best comedy actor for his role in The Studio, made a pointed joke about the situation. He remarked that the SAG-AFTRA union had managed to
“pay your own employees enough to keep the award show from being canceled,”
directing his comment toward WGA West’s inability to do the same. He followed this with a quip aimed at the writers’ union, saying, “Take notes, WGA.”
Details Behind the Writers Guild of America West Cancellation
The WGA West’s West Coast division took the unprecedented step to cancel their awards ceremony due to a strike initiated by their non-supervisory staff, who are members of the Pacific Northwest Staff Union (PNWSU). This strike arose amid first contract negotiations, with the staff union accusing management of unfair labor practices. The WGA West president, Mulroney, communicated the cancellation in a letter addressed to those involved in the event, emphasizing respect for the staff’s right to strike and a desire to avoid any complications for presenters, guests, and attendees.
Mulroney acknowledged the strike in the letter, stating,
“Currently, the non-supervisory staff of the WGAW, represented by the Pacific Northwest Staff Union (PNWSU), is on strike.”
He further explained,
“While I respect the staff’s right to strike, I also believe that you deserve an uncomplicated celebration of your achievements. We would not ask you, your guests, talent and crew to cross a picket line to attend.”
Union Staff Allegations and Impact on the Awards Ceremony
The Writers Guild Staff Union (WGSU), protesting outside the WGA West’s Los Angeles headquarters, has accused the union’s management of threatening to cancel the awards as a tactic to
“drive a wedge between union staff and WGA membership.”
This discord intensified tensions during contract talks and contributed to the decision to halt the awards show in Los Angeles.
The Los Angeles event was to be hosted by comedian Atsuko Okatsuka and streamed live on the Writers Guild Awards West’s YouTube channel at JW Marriott L.A. LIVE. However, with the cancellation, the opportunity to celebrate writing achievements on the West Coast was postponed indefinitely.
East Coast Ceremony to Proceed Despite West Coast Strike
While the West Coast festivities will not take place, the Writers Guild of America East event in New York City is planned to continue as scheduled on March 8. This is because the East Coast union operates separately and its staff union is not participating in a strike. Comedian Roy Wood Jr. is slated to host the New York ceremony, ensuring that recognition of outstanding writing in the industry will still be honored despite the ongoing labor disputes on the West Coast.
Seth Rogen’s Recognition and Remarks Amid the Festivities
Aside from his pointed critique, Seth Rogen received multiple honors during the show. In addition to winning best comedy actor for The Studio, he accepted the award for best comedy ensemble on behalf of the cast and paid tribute to his late co-star Catherine O’Hara, who earned best actress in a comedy series.
Reflecting on his career during his acceptance speech, Rogen stated,
“I always honestly kind of considered myself more of a writer who was able to write myself roles that I then kind of forced people to allow me to perform in, but this, actually, makes me feel like an actor for this evening, so I really appreciate it.”
