Warner CEO Booed At Boston U Graduation Over Writer's Strike

Scores of Boston University students turned their backs on the head of one of Hollywood’s biggest studios, and some shouted “Pay your writers,” as he gave the school’s commencement address in a stadium where protesters supporting the Hollywood writers’ strike picketed outside, Steven Senne reported for the Associated Press (AP).

Photo Insert: About 100 protesters chanted “No wages, no pages,” waved signs and were accompanied by an inflatable rat outside Nickerson Field as David Zaslav, president and CEO of Warner Bros. Discovery gave his address inside the stadium.

About 100 protesters chanted “No wages, no pages,” waved signs and were accompanied by an inflatable rat outside Nickerson Field as David Zaslav, president and CEO of Warner Bros. Discovery gave his address inside the stadium.

Thousands of graduating students, family members and educators attending the graduation ceremony had to walk by the protesters to enter the stadium.

Above the stadium, a small plane flew a banner that read, “David Zaslav — pay your writers.” Kim Caramele, a writer and producer from North Stonington, Connecticut, said she hoped the protesters’ presence helped give students a different perspective on what they should value in life.

“The writers being here today can help show the students that wealth is different than good,” said Caramele, a winner of Emmy and Peabody awards for work on her sister’s show, “Inside Amy Schumer.”

Scores of students wearing red graduation gowns stood up during Zaslav’s speech and turned their backs on him. Others booed during his speech and shouted in support of the striking writers.

Zaslav, a graduate of the university’s law school in the mid-1980s, was a contentious pick, with alumni taking to social media with their objections.

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