John Krasinski's appearance in Rogers ad sparks backlash from Canadian actors amidst union dispute

John Krasinski faces criticism for his role in a Rogers ad as Canadian actors struggle with a two-year union dispute.

John Krasinski has come under fire for his appearance in a Rogers commercial amid an ongoing labor dispute between Canadian actors and advertising agencies. The ad, which features Krasinski dancing to Taylor Swift's "Shake It Off" on a boat in Ontario, has sparked outrage among members of the Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists (ACTRA), who have been locked out of commercial work for over two years.

The dispute centers around the National Commercial Agreement (NCA), a longstanding contract that governed commercial work for Canadian union actors. Talks between ACTRA and the Institute of Canadian Agencies (ICA) broke down in 2022, leaving many actors without work. As a result, some have been forced to sell their homes or change careers. Canadian actors have expressed their frustration, particularly since ACTRA had supported the SAG-AFTRA strike in the U.S. last year, only to feel abandoned in their own struggle.

Paloma Nuñez, a Canadian commercial actor, voiced her discontent, stating that seeing Krasinski in the ad felt like "dancing on our rights and our livelihood." The sentiment is shared by many in the industry, who see Krasinski's involvement as a betrayal of solidarity among actors.

The controversy has brought renewed attention to the ongoing labor dispute, with ACTRA continuing to push for fair treatment and protections for its members. Meanwhile, Krasinski and Rogers have yet to publicly respond to the backlash.