SAG-AFTRA Fran Drescher has said that she was willing to go on strike in 2021 over Hollywood’s vaccination mandates.

On Thursday, as critics asked her why she had not done more to end the COVID vaccination mandates on sets in Hollywood, Drescher said, “If it were up to me, I would have asked to strike over it, but a union cannot strike with a handful of members when repeatedly… the majority, as seen in the local LA meeting, overwhelmingly disagree with you or have changed their thinking on this issue.”

Drescher has been outspoken against vaccine mandates since the beginning of vaccine rollouts. Even though she herself is vaccinated, she applauded companies like Disney who removed vaccine mandates from show and movie sets in November 2022.

Her most outspoken critics on the issue include Maya Dunbar, her opponent for the position of president and actor Chuck Slavin. They spoke out against her in the email chain where she proclaimed that she was willing to go on strike during the original mandates in 2021. 

In response to their criticism, Drescher said, “I continue to fight on behalf of our members who feel discriminated against because of the Covid unvaccinated or un-boosted status, which is keeping them from working in major studio productions. For those members not being fairly considered by studios with regards to their religious or health exemptions, help is on the way!”

SAG-AFTRA will most likely go on strike next week.