This Barbie (Costume) Can’t Cross The Picket Line: SAG-AFTRA Informs Its Members That They Can’t Dress Up For Halloween As Characters From “Struck Content”

In order to avoid the SAG-AFTRA strike scaries this spooky season, the union has instructed its members to “dress up as characters from non-struck content.”

“This Halloween, we wanted to make sure our members don’t inadvertently break strike rules, and have put together some quick tips on the dos and don’ts for costumes,” they wrote in a post shared to their official strike site on Wednesday (Oct. 18). “Check them out and have a spooktacular Halloween!”

The post has urged actors to instead “choose costumes inspired by generalized characters and figures” such as ghosts, zombies, or spiders, or to opt for costumes inspired by non-struck content, such as animated shows.

The big “don’t ” emphasized in the graphic reads as follows: “Don’t post photos of costumes inspired by struck content to social media.”

This means no Barbies (Barbie) and no Wednesday Adams (Wednesday), which according to Google’s Frightgeist, have ranked in the top 10 costumes nationally this year, per USA Today. Sadly, this also means that Fran Drescher, the SAG-AFTRA president, can’t dress up as The Nanny on Halloween, either.

“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,” the post added.

However, according to Variety, projects that are under interim agreements with the guild are likely in the clear, such as A24’s Priscilla — which just premiered at the New York Film Festival earlier this month and will make its way to theaters on Nov. 3 — and The Iron Claw, which doesn’t hit theaters until Dec. 22.

Deadline issued an updated list of films and TV shows that are considered SAG-AFTRA interim agreements. So those who are concerned about scabbing this Halloween may consider a costume from this list of fine films and TV series.

Last Thursday (Oct. 12), SAG-AFTRA posted on Instagram that “the industry CEOs have walked away from the bargaining table after refusing to counter [their] latest offer.”

“We have negotiated with them in good faith, despite the fact that last week they presented an offer that was, shockingly, worth less than they proposed before the strike began,” they continued. “Our resolve is unwavering. Join us on picket lines and at solidarity events around the country and let your voices be heard.”

They concluded, “One day longer. One day stronger. As long as it takes.”