As Writers Guild of America placing union members picketed outdoors Boston University’s graduation on Sunday, boos and expletives rained down on Warner Bros. Discovery’s David Zaslav when he took the stage as graduation speaker.
This was actually a memorable graduation speech for BU grads at Nickerson Field on Sunday, with boos and chants taking up probably the most awkward commencements of all time.
“Pay your writers!” BU graduates chanted at Zaslav, the president and CEO of Warner Bros. Discovery.
The college has been in scorching water for the reason that announcement of Zaslav as graduation speaker amid the Hollywood writers’ strike. The Writers Guild of America blasted the choice, and placing union members picketed outdoors the graduation.
Zaslav, a BU Law alum from 1985, is amongst eight Hollywood CEOs pictured on a viral checklist who collectively made greater than $773 million in 2021, in keeping with the writers’ guild. Zaslav took house $246 million that yr, the guild posted on-line.
“Wow,” Zaslav stated as he began his graduation speech amid the jeers from the viewers. “I couldn’t be more excited to be here with all of you. It’s an incredible day.”
“I have to admit, I’m a little nervous. This is my first time giving a commencement address,” he later added.
Zaslav didn’t contact the writers’ strike throughout his deal with.
“Some people will be looking for a fight,” he stated in the course of the life recommendation portion of his speech because the “pay your writers” chants continued. “But don’t be the one they find it with. Focus on peoples’ good qualities.”
Zaslav instructed the grads to determine what they’re good at, and what they’re not good at — and work on these issues.
“Never, never, never get outworked,” he stated.
“Be respectful of other people, and everything is possible,” Zaslav later added. “Respect and kindness is something that will change the way people see you. It’s an important lesson for all of you. It’s an important lesson for me.”
The boos for Zaslav at BU’s graduation was the polar reverse of the rousing standing ovation on Sunday for Ketanji Brown Jackson, the primary Black girl to serve on the Supreme Court. She acquired an honorary diploma from BU.
Source: www.bostonherald.com”