Opinion: Ridley responses: Whoever said “shut up,” it didn’t work

Dear Editor: John Ridley’s comments about the Writers Guild sound very much like those of Thirties liberals who joined the Communist Party but left in frustration over its fascistic attitudes but were made to suffer for that membership in the late Forties. And it was nice to see a different perspective on this strike for a change. More objective coverage would be appreciated.

Dear Editor: I want to publicly voice my support for John Ridley’s decision to stand on principle and tread his own path. Writers have always been staunch defenders of free speech. Telling one of their own to ‘shut up’ is a terrible betrayal. As a SAG member, I support the goals of the writers’ strike but the WGA will self destruct if they continue to alienate their own members.

Dear Editor, There are nearly 12,000 members of the Writers Guild of American and John Ridley is your choice for Blowback? Justify that, please.

John Ridley’s entitled to his opinion. No big deal. But his complaints about WGA negotiators not being experienced enough is a dated, dead issue. And it was discussed at the meeting in December. Which he should know since he said he was there. Patrick Verrone answered it directly and without any malice to the writer who asked it. And the crack John made about someone at the meeting commenting that: ‘Anyone who didn’t have anything good to say about the strike should shut up.’ -- That was a member who stepped up to the mike and simply felt that way following the previous speaker. I’m sorry, but isn’t that what he said we should all be okay with - speaking your mind? The leaders never cheered. The membership did. That’s what happens in membership meetings like that. No leader on stage went into a ‘frenzied’ state and declared that this would now be the new theme of the night. Here’s the truth: John Ridley is a sensitive guy. That’s cool. But what he also is is a selfish member of this creative community by blasting the very guild that is trying to protect his and everyone else’s future. The leaders aren’t perfect - none of us are. So run for one of the WGA board or leadership positions if you’re not happy. But don’t shit on the sacrifices they and all writers are making by posting an LA Times Op-Ed piece with things like: ‘Bargaining chips moved on and off the table in the haphazard manner of a first-time gambler at a roulette wheel; interim agreements arbitrarily granted, without the necessary vote by membership.’ Arrogant. Selfish. Mis-leading. And incredibly self-serving. I have no problem with John Ridley disagreeing with WGA tactics and policies. What I have a problem with is him giving up after hitting a few roadblocks. Being intimidated by a few writers who said you shouldn’t go into the WGA’s Santa Monica meeting in December. Then throwing his hands up like a spoiled, angry child and going by way of the LA Times Op-Ed route. Independent thinker: Maybe. A guy who really stands for something: Absolutely not. Cowardly: Absolutely!

While it’s flattering to think that I helped inspire John Ridley to leave the Writers Guild of America (the union that has fought to make sure he was paid for his work and to protect his creative rights) and declare Financial Core status, I really don’t deserve the credit he has so generously given me. I was the ‘high-profile (thank you again, John) television writer’ who made the remarks at the membership meeting that Ridley referred to in his op-ed piece. The problem is that John was not listening closely. My words: ‘tell them to shut the up’, was a reference to agents and producers (people who make a very nice living off of the work of writers) who were making public statements about the strike without any regard to the damage they were doing to the very people who pay their salary.