WB Discovery Boss Booed During Commencement Address: “Pay Your Writers”

Returning to your alma mater isn’t always rainbows and sunshine, especially when you’re the CEO and president of Warner Bros. Discovery. David Zaslav found that out the hard way while giving a commencement speech at Boston University in the midst of the Writers Guild of America strike. This reportedly led to jeers and chants of “pay your writers.”

Deadline reports there was an official WGA picket line outside of the graduation ceremony, but some students apparently vocalized their support for the strikers while Zaslav spoke. Late Night with Seth Meyers writer Mike Scollins shared a video on Twitter showing the Warner Bros. Discovery boss–who graduated from Boston’s law school in 1985–interrupted by chants of “pay your writers.” Zaslav never commented on the strike during his speech.

However, after the ceremony, Deadline said a spokesperson for Zaslav delivered the following statement from the executive. “I am grateful to my alma mater, Boston University, for inviting me to be part of today’s commencement and for giving me an honorary degree. As I have often said, I am immensely supportive of writers and hope the strike is resolved soon and in a way that they feel recognizes their value.”

The WGA strike started earlier this month and immediately affected TV shows, like Late Night with Seth Meyers. The writers are at odds with studio executives like Zaslav, arguing for better pay, increased residuals on streaming platforms, and more.

Zaslav oversees two huge shows that have been impacted by the strike in different ways. HBO’s The Last of Us has halted casting for Season 2, while House of the Dragon is apparently continuing to film for its sophomore season.

The Warner Bros. Discovery boss also made waves last week by wondering publicly why James Gunn wasn’t running the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Zaslav has put Gunn in a co-leadership role to guide DC Studios going forward.