Why are Hollywood actors being told not to dress up as Barbie for Halloween?

Halloween is just around the corner, which means millions of us (it’s probably not an exaggeration to say) are looking for inspiration when it comes to what to dress up as. Some of us will go with tried and trusted ideas (witches, ghosts, vampires etc), while others may go for something a little more topical, even if it’s not always in the spooky spirit of things. Hollywood stars are no different and we can expect to see many celebrity disguises on social media when the times comes on 31 October.

In the recent past, we have seen plenty take inspiration from big-hitting TV shows and movies, with Stranger Things especially popular in recent times. This year, however, could be slightly different, with actors “banned” from impersonating their favourite television and film characters, scary or otherwise.

Actors’ union offers Halloween “guidelines”

It all, of course, comes down to the SAG-AFTRA (Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists) actors’ union strike, which has been ongoing since 14 July. As part of the strike, union members are not allowed to work for any major US studios. And considering recent talks have broken down, with the union pushing for increased pay, a greater share of streaming revenues, and protection against actors’ images and voices being copied by artificial intelligence, it doesn’t seem as if it’s about to change any time soon.

In connection to the strike, SAG-AFTRA has also asked its members to follow Halloween guidelines to ensure stay “in solidarity with the TV/Theatrical/Streaming strike”. The advice includes choosing costumes “inspired by generalised characters and figures (ghost, zombie, spider, etc), dressing up “as characters from non-struck content, like an animated TV show” and not posting “photos of costumes inspired by struck content to social media”.

The “guidance” finishes: “Let’s use our collective power to send a loud and clear message to our struck employers that we will not promote their content without a fair contract!”

Scary Barbie staying at home in Hollywood this Halloween

So, unless anyone shocks the world by breaking ranks, don’t expect to see any of your favourite Hollywood stars dressed up as any of the Barbies or Kens from Greta Gerwig’s fantasy comedy, J. Robert Oppenheimer (because you can’t mention Barbie or Oppenheimer without the other) or either of the Super Mario Bros.