Actor Dermot Mulroney Stuns ‘The View’ Audience with Bold Walk-Off in Solidarity with Writers’ Strike
Note: This story was originally published in June 2023.
Actor Dermot Mulroney made a powerful statement in support of striking writers during a recent appearance on The View. On the episode that aired Friday, Mulroney caught both the hosts and viewers by surprise when he walked off the set mid-interview, sending a strong message of solidarity with the ongoing Writers Guild of America (WGA) strike.
His dramatic exit came at the end of the segment as he politely checked if the show was heading to a commercial break. With a brief thank-you to the hosts, Mulroney left the stage, leaving everyone stunned. His walk-off served as a poignant reminder of the ongoing fight for fair wages and better working conditions for writers in the entertainment industry.
Though Mulroney’s departure was unanticipated, the rest of his interview covered a wide range of topics, including his Disney+ series Secret Invasion, his illustrious career, family life, work ethic, and his enduring presence in Hollywood.
Despite the unexpected twist, the pre-taped segment aired without edits, preserving the moment in its entirety. While The View typically airs live four days a week, its Friday shows are pre-taped, allowing this unplanned yet impactful gesture to be shared with the audience exactly as it happened.
Mulroney’s walk-off has ignited further discussions about the ongoing WGA strike, which has now entered its 50th day without resolution. Earlier this week, hundreds of Hollywood union members gathered in Los Angeles for a powerful rally to show their support for the striking writers.
While the strike has caused many daytime shows to go on hiatus, The View has managed to stay on air, largely unaffected. This is because the majority of its staff are not union members. However, a few of the show’s writers are currently impacted and not actively working. Despite this, The View continues to rely heavily on its unscripted content, with the hosts’ spontaneous banter and occasional on-air hiccups providing a glimpse into the behind-the-scenes reality of a live, unscripted format.
Mulroney’s bold move serves to amplify the voices advocating for fair treatment of writers within the entertainment industry. The full impact of such high-profile acts of solidarity on the ongoing negotiations between writers and production companies remains uncertain, but it undeniably keeps the issue at the forefront of public discussion.
Though Mulroney initially appeared on The View to promote his Disney+ series Marvel’s Secret Invasion, which premiered on Wednesday, his choice of platform carried added significance. With The View airing on ABC, a network within the Disney family, Mulroney’s decision to raise awareness about the WGA strike on this particular show underscores the deeper connections between Disney, Marvel, and the entertainment industry’s larger labor disputes.
As the strike continues, dramatic gestures like Mulroney’s walk-off play a crucial role in sustaining attention on the challenges faced by writers in Hollywood. By using a widely viewed show like The View as his stage, Mulroney reinforces the ongoing relevance of the WGA strike and its potential to shape the future of the industry.
