SAG Awards insiders on Warner Bros. deal and red carpet snub

At the newly named Actor Awards, several outlets — including KTLA, Fox11 and ABC — were placed near the exit, missing most nominees as they arrived. The prevailing rumor among reporters was that news-focused outlets were pushed to the carpet’s end out of concern celebrities would be asked about the conflict in Iran.

“I don’t ask political questions anyway, I don’t get it,” one news reporter said, while a veteran LA TV personality added, “I’d like a word with whoever made this decision.” After an hour with no talent in sight, a longtime Hollywood reporter walked down the carpet to pitch publicists on making their way back; several reporters eventually landed interviews with carpet-walkers, from the president of SAG-AFTRA to a “Shark Tank” dealmaker, about Paramount Skydance’s impending Warner Bros.

Discovery acquisition. SAG-AFTRA president Sean Astin said the union is “feeling very skeptical” and wants to see whether a deal of that size will create more jobs or reduce them.

United States, Los Angeles

sag awards, actor awards, red carpet, sag-aftra, sean astin, warner bros, paramount skydance, acquisition, ktla, abc