Selena Gomez, known for her roles in both television and music, recently stirred up controversy on Instagram after posting a video related to her Hulu series “Only Murders in the Building.” The post, which appeared to be from the set of the show, was later deleted from her profile amid accusations of breaking SAG-AFTRA strike rules.
In the now-removed Instagram post, Gomez tagged the official account of “Only Murders in the Building” and added the caption, “Missing and wanting.” Despite not speaking in the video or explicitly urging her followers to watch the show, the tag led many to assume the post was related to the Hulu series. The video garnered over 1.1 million likes within 15 hours before being taken down.
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SAG-AFTRA, the labor union representing actors and performers, has strict rules during strikes, preventing members from promoting their work through press interviews or social media posts. While the debate continues regarding whether Gomez’s action constituted a breach of these rules, some of her followers accused her of violating the rules by sharing the post. Some labeled it as “tone-deaf” considering the ongoing strike.
Gomez’s representative has not provided a statement on the matter, and SAG-AFTRA declined to comment.
“Only Murders in the Building,” a comedy series airing on Hulu, is currently in its third season. Gomez stars alongside Steve Martin and Martin Short, portraying Mabel Mora, a young artist with a unique ability to investigate murders in New York City. Despite being a series regular since the pilot episode, Gomez and her co-stars have refrained from giving interviews about the ongoing season due to the strike.
The series’ third season premiered on August 8 and will continue to air new episodes until October 3 on Hulu.
While Gomez faced scrutiny for her Instagram post related to the show, she also recently made headlines for her return to the music scene. Her new song “Single Soon,” released on August 25, marked her reentry into the music industry. Notably, this endeavor doesn’t interfere with SAG-AFTRA strike rules, allowing her to freely promote her music.
Gomez’s online actions serve as a reminder of the complexities actors face during industry strikes, as well as the potential impact of their social media activity on ongoing labor disputes. As debates about her Instagram post continue, fans are eagerly following Gomez’s career in both television and music.