SAG-AFTRA Cancels Friday The 13th Picketing Due To 'Potential Safety Concerns'

The SAG-AFTRA union is prioritizing the safety and well-being of its members and the general public.

The union announced that all pickets slated for 'Friday the 13th' in New York City and Los Angeles will not be held anymore in the wake of the Israeli-Palestinian crisis. According to the body, the cancellation has nothing to do with the ongoing writer's strike, and it's just a necessary security measure.

The body took to its social media page on X (formerly Twitter) to update the public on this critical decision. The post, which had the words, "Picket lines will be closed at all locations in NY and LA on Friday, October 13," was accompanied by a more detailed caption that read:

"In light of potential safety concerns that are unrelated to our ongoing strike, there will be no SAG-AFTRA pickets in New York City or Los Angeles on Friday, Oct. 13. Stay safe and see you on the picket lines next week. #SagAftraStrong #SagAftraStrike."

While it has not been confirmed what the potential threat is, it has been reported that the union made her decision due to former Hamas chief Khaled Meshaal's announcement.

Meshaal had asked its supporters to protest worldwide on Friday, October 13, in solidarity with the terrorist attacks unleashed against Israel. The ongoing crisis, which began with an ambushed attack by Hamas on Israel nearly a week ago, has recorded a death toll of 2,700 on both sides.

The New York Police Department and Los Angeles Police Department have respectively issued statements citing that there are no known or credible threats at the moment. Regardless of their uncertainty, the bodies are committed to keeping tabs on the developing situation and increasing patrols "out of an abundance of caution."

New York City's Mayor Eric Adams further shared on his X page that the police department has been directed to send additional resources to schools and houses of worship to ensure that everyone's safe and that New York "remains a place of peace." LAPD also released a statement on its official social media handle, which read:

"The Los Angeles Police Department is aware of recent statements made calling for action as it relates to the conflict in the Middle East. We have no information of any specific or credible threats to the City of Los Angeles but we are continuing to assess the situation for any potential impact to our communities. We are closely monitoring these events and are coordinating with Federal, State, and local partners on information sharing."

Like SAG-AFTRA, the Academy Museum Gala announced a postponement on its red carpet planned for Saturday. The announcement came following the Hamas attack on Israel, leaving thousands of people dead.

Per The Hollywood Reporter, the body initially announced that only the red carpet segment of the event was going to be scrapped and wrote:

"The Academy Museum condemns all forms of hate and cruelty and stands in support of innocent Israeli and Palestinian lives affected by the ongoing violence. Out of respect for the devastating conflict and loss of life happening overseas, the Academy Museum has made the decision to cancel the red carpet at its annual fundraising gala on Saturday, October 14."

The museum then decided to postpone the entire event, according to a statement from a spokesperson, which read, "Out of respect for the devastating conflict and loss of life happening overseas, we have decided to postpone the Academy Museum gala this Saturday. We look forward to rescheduling at a later date. We thank everybody deeply for their support."

The Academy Museum Gala is an annual fundraiser for museum exhibitions, education initiatives, and public programming. The four awards presented at this year's ceremony showcase the museum's continued mission to promote film understanding, celebration, and preservation.

The award also aims to challenge the dominant narratives around the cinema and is presented by Rolex. It's the first major Hollywood event to be postponed in the wake of the attack, with celebrities like Angela Basset, Kerry Washington, Selena Gomez, Tom Hanks, Emma Stone, Mark Ruffalo, Pedro Pascal, and a host of others on the guest list.