‘Dancing With the Stars’ Premiere Eyes Delay as Celebrities Begin to Drop Out Amid WGA Strike

variety.com:

Elizabeth Wagmeister Chief Correspondent The “Dancing With the Stars” premiere will more-than-likely be delayed next week as talent has begun dropping out of the show, amid rising pressures during the WGA strike. “Veep” actor Matt Walsh, who is part of the Season 32 cast, is “taking a pause” from the ABC dance competition show until an agreement is made with the WGA, and says he hopes to join the show again.

Walsh is a member of WGA, SAG-AFTRA and the DGA. ABC confirmed to Variety that the network is putting plans in place to postpone the “Dancing With the Stars” premiere. “I am taking a pause from ‘Dancing with the Stars’ until an agreement is made with the WGA,” Walsh tells Variety in a statement. “I was excited to join the show and did so under the impression that it was not a WGA show and fell under a different agreement.

This morning when I was informed by my union, the WGA, that it is considered struck work I walked out of my rehearsal. I have been and will always stand with my union members of the WGA, SAG and DGA.

Beyond our union artists, I am sensitive to the many people impacted by the strike and I hope for a speedy and fair resolution, and to one day work again with all the wonderful people I met at ‘DWTS’ who tolerated my dancing.” The WGA and AMPTP are scheduled to meet again on Thursday which will be the second continuous day of the two sides meeting at the table after what was an “encouraging” session on Wednesday.