Social media stars, rarely unionized, try to navigate Hollywood's hot strike summer

LOS ANGELES — Gadiel Del Orbe had secured the sort of opportunity that social media stars dream of: a gig hosting a documentary for a major Hollywood studio.

It was a chance for the Los Angeles-based actor and internet comedian — who has about 300,000 followers on TikTok and Instagram combined — to get his name out there and chase showbiz success.

Then SAG-AFTRA, the union for film and television actors, went on strike.

This month, actors across Tinseltown began picketing outside studio lots, refusing to do any more work for the big entertainment companies until their demands for higher wages, increased residuals and limits on artificial intelligence are met. Among the struck companies was the one that had hired Del Orbe.

Many influencers, including Del Orbe, are not part of SAG-AFTRA, although. Now SAG-AFTRA has published for how influencers should operate during the strike, calling on them to not promote struck companies or content unless obligated to do so by an existing contract.