- “Treegate” Controversy: NBCUniversal Denies Halting Striking Actors’ Protests
- Escalating Tensions Between Hollywood Studios and Artists
- Municipal Controller Confirms “No Tree Trimming Permits” Issued for Area
NBCUniversal has denied attempting to halt striking actors and writers from protesting outside its studios by chopping down trees that provided shade during the scorching heat.
This dispute, which has been dubbed “Treegate,” is indicative of escalating tensions between Hollywood studios and artists.
Kenneth Mejia, the municipal controller of Los Angeles, stated that “no tree trimming permits” had been issued for the area.
Officials from NBCUniversal described the activity as “annual landscaping.”
However, the studio stated in a statement to the Los Angeles Times that the work “created unintended difficulties for demonstrators.”
Actors joined striking screenwriters over the weekend in Hollywood’s largest strike in over six decades.
Writers Guild of America and Sag-Aftra protested outside NBCUniversal and other offices and studios.
“Suspiciously timed construction that has forced picketers into streets without proper safety rails, and now tree trimming that has eliminated shade during a record heatwave,” Sag-Aftra said in a statement to the Hollywood Reporter. “has forced Sag-Aftra to determine that it cannot safely send its members to picket at NBCUniversal.”
NBCUniversal stated that “the safety tree trimming of the Ficus trees” was not intended to cause issues for protestors.
“That was not our intention,” stated the company. “In collaboration with certified arborists, we have pruned these trees annually at this time of year to lighten their canopies before the season of strong winds.
“We support the WGA’s and Sag’s right to demonstrate and are working to provide shade.” We continue to communicate openly with the on-site labor leaders to collaborate during this time.”
After conducting an investigation, Mr. Mejia stated, “With the cooperation of the Bureau of Street Services, we have determined that no tree trimming permits have been issued for this location outside Universal Studios in the past three years.”
NBCUniversal has now installed street-side gazebos to provide shade.
After negotiations between major studios, screenwriters, and actors regarding streaming-era compensation and the use of artificial intelligence broke down, Hollywood entered uncharted territory.
Last week, actors joined their writing counterparts on picket lines outside studios in Los Angeles, New York, and other cities. Where they have been protesting for several months.
