Hollywood power couple Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds have stepped forward in solidarity with their fellow actors, uniting with notable figures like George and Amal Clooney to contribute a substantial sum of $1 million to the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) Foundation. This initiative aims to extend critical financial assistance to actors adversely affected by ongoing strikes.
In a heartening display of support, the generous donation from Lively and Reynolds is part of a collective effort by several prominent A-list couples. Foundation President Courtney B. Vance announced on August 2nd that a remarkable total of $15 million has been raised for the cause. Alongside Reynolds and Lively, George and Amal Clooney, Luciana and Matt Damon, Hugh Jackman and Deborra-lee Furness, and Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck are among those contributing $1 million or more to the cause.
Esteemed figures such as Leonardo DiCaprio, Dwayne Johnson, Nicole Kidman, Julia Roberts, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Meryl Streep, and Oprah Winfrey have also stepped forward with generous donations, reinforcing the depth of compassion and unity within the entertainment industry.
Amidst the current wave of strikes, the SAG-AFTRA Foundation has found itself inundated with unprecedented applications for emergency aid, processing approximately 30 times its usual volume. A surge of 400 requests was received in the past week alone. Typically, grants of up to $1,500 per individual are disbursed to members demonstrating direct impact from the ongoing work stoppage and substantiated financial need.
As the industry confronts these challenges, the resounding support from Hollywood’s luminaries underscores a profound sense of community and shared responsibility, amplifying efforts to alleviate the financial burdens faced by fellow actors during this critical period.
