Tim Robbins has backed Woody Harrelson’s call for Hollywood to end Covid protocols on film and television sets.
Sharing Variety’s write-up of Harrelson’s recent interview with The New York Times in which the actor described Covid set protocols as “nonsense,” Robbins posted on twitter: “Woody is right. Time to finish this puzzle. The Shashank Redemption actor also tagged Saag-Aftera and Actors Equity Association in his post so that both the organizations could see it.
Speaking with David Marshes of The Times, Harrelson, who is currently making the press rounds for his new film Champions, expressed concern for the future of indie films given “all Covid protocols”, such measures called “absurd”.
When asked what was absurd about the measures, Harrelson replied: “The fact that they’re still in place!
“I don’t think anybody should have the right to demand that you be forced to get tested, forced to wear a mask and forced to get vaccinated after three years,” he said. “I’m like, let’s be done with this crap. It’s not fair to the staff. I don’t have to wear a mask. Why should they? Why should they get vaccinated? How is it not up to the person? I shouldn’t talk about [expletive],
Harrelson reiterated that he was angry on behalf of the set crew – “The anarchist part of me, I don’t think we should have had forced testing, forced masking and forced vaccinations. This is not a free country,” he said. “Actually I am talking about the crew. Because I can go out wearing masks. I can do less tests. I am not in the position they are in, but it is wrong. It is three years Yes. Stop.”
Hollywood’s current Kovid protocols, which were to end on January 31, will now end on April 1.
Robbins isn’t the only major actor to align with Harrelson’s views. Fran Drescher, the current president of Sag-Aftra, announced the end of the vaccine mandate last month during her speech at the guild’s annual awards show. In his speech, the 65-year-old actor and The Nani star said, “As the nation declares the end of the Covid emergency this May, I hope we see everyone returning to work on an equal footing.”
He said during his speech, “Our industry brings billions of dollars in production to states across the country, but if they want our business, governors need to use their financial resources to act in the best interests of liberty, diversity, inclusion, and democracy.” Must use influence. “As my character Bobby Fleckman said on This Is Spinal Tap – money talks and fucks go!”
Drescher had previously made his stance known in a video posted on Twitter, in which he called such a mandate “a violation of the Disabilities Act, the Freedom of Religion Act and the sovereignty of the body.”
Harrelson’s interview was posted days before he was scheduled to host Saturday Night Live on February 25, during which he generated controversy with a Covid conspiracy joke. The actor spent much of his opening monologue making a joke about the “craziest script” he had ever read.
“So that’s how the movie goes,” he explained. “The world’s biggest drug cartels get together and buy all the media and all the politicians and force all the people of the world to stay locked in their homes. And people can come out only if they take the drugs of the cartel and keep taking them again and again.
“I threw away the script,” Harrelson said. “I mean, who was going to believe that crazy idea? Being forced to do drugs? I do it all day willingly.” criticized in