Fran Drescher received more blowback this week after she took a break from contract talks with major studios for a trip to Italy to rub elbows with fashion stars including Kim Kardashian.
The 65-year-old star of The Nanny, who now serves as the president of the SAG-AFTRA union, was pictured in photos enjoying the glitz and glamour with the 42-year-old reality star at the Dolce & Gabbana Alta Moda show in Puglia, Italy.
SAG-AFTRA, which represents actors, journalists, singers and numerous other performers, is negotiating with just days to go before the expiration of film and television contract packages.
That means that the members are just days away from a strike, after high-profile stars including Jennifer Lawrence, Meryl Streep, Brendan Fraser — and even Drescher herself — sign a letter to SAG-AFTRA leadership saying they were ready and willing to strike if necessary.
Drescher invited questions about just how involved she is in the negotiations after she and Kardashian were pictured beaming ear-to-ear in glamorous formal attire, including in photos the Kardashians star posted to her Instagram account.
The glamorous life: SAG-AFTRA president Fran Drescher received blowback from members and critics after hanging out with Kim Kardashian at a Dolce & Gabbana show in Italy over the weekend
Deadline approaching: The actress-turned-executive’s union has been negotiation new contracts for actors ahead of the contract expirations on Thursday; seen June 29 in NYC
Drescher was pictured in a busty, strappy black dress, and her elegantly dark curls framed a striking splash of crimson across her lips.
Kim was weighed down with an enormous jeweled necklace, and she stunned in a violet off-the-shoulder gown.
‘My fashion icon!’ Kardashian wrote of Drescher. ‘Always on my mood board! I seriously love this woman! The oh so gorgeous @officialfrandrescher.’
Kardashian has plenty of experience on screen, and she has recently graduated from her reality TV origins to star in the upcoming season of Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk’s anthology series American Horror Story.
The reality star didn’t do Drescher any favors when she shared another photo that showed the Spinal Tap actress wedged in between Kim and her mother Kris Jenner, while other stars including Helen Mirren, Angela Bassett and Kerry Washington joined in the festivities.
Christian Bale and Anitta were also reportedly among the guests, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
The five-day event also included a concert put on by legendary singer Diana Ross.
The connection to Kardashian was particularly unfortunate for Drescher, as SAG-AFTRA members have expressed solidarity with striking members of the Writers Guild of America (WGA), but Kardashian was reportedly seen crossing a picket line to continue film American Horror story.
Star power: The reality star didn’t do Drescher any favors when she shared another photo that showed the Spinal Tap actress wedged in between Kim and her mother Kris Jenner, while other stars including Helen Mirren, Angela Bassett and Kerry Washington joined in the festivities
Criticism: ‘Unless the bargaining table has moved to Italy (along with the dress code), this is a terrible look for a union president,’ Fleishman In Trouble creator Taffy Brodesser-Akner opined on Twitter. ‘Don’t get me started on her friend here’; seen in June 2022 in LA
‘Unless the bargaining table has moved to Italy (along with the dress code), this is a terrible look for a union president,’ Fleishman In Trouble creator Taffy Brodesser-Akner opined on Twitter. ‘Don’t get me started on her friend here.’
She added: ‘Some real let them eat cake vibes for the SAG-AFTRA members who were marching alongside us WGA members just this morning.’
Jorge Rivera, the vice char of the Latinx Writers Committe for the WGA West sniped: ‘Did they push the deadline so she could attend a party in Italy?’
Many of those lambasting Drescher reposted the photo of her with Kardashian.
Sources have told THR that Drescher has not been part of negotiations in person for weeks, though the publication notes that it is sometimes possible to join virtually via video chat platforms.
SAG-AFTRA’s current contract expires on Wednesday night, July 12, at 11:59 p.m.
A representative for the union said that Drescher had been in Italy for previously scheduled ‘brand ambassador’ work.
‘This was a commitment fully known to the negotiating committee,’ they claimed. ‘She has been in negotiations every day either in person or via videoconference. President Drescher is managing a physically demanding schedule across three time zones, overseeing negotiations and working on-location daily as well as managing her parents’ needs in [Florida]. She is returning to the States and will be on the ground in LA tomorrow, and will continue to chair our negotiations.’
Out of it: Drescher hasn’t been in LA since going to New York on June 29, though she may have been able to join negotiations virtually; seen in October 2022 in LA
Although it is possible that she has been negotiating virtually, Deadline also reported that Drescher has not been home in LA since she flew to New York on June 29 for a Good Morning America appearance.
USC professor and entertainment labor expert Steven Ross told THR that Drescher’s visit was ‘bad optics,’ regardless of how ‘involved’ she has been in negotiations.
‘The president of any union should be there when there’s a strike or the threat of a strike looming immediately. We don’t know if she had commitments she couldn’t get out of, but the optics are not good,’ he said.
‘Nowadays, any kind of a conflict like this is a war in the press and optics, and so that was a misstep,’ added film historian Jonathan Kuntz. ‘I don’t think it’ll have a serious impact on negotiations. We all have to be aware of appearances though.’
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