Anne Hathaway Takes a Stand: Walks Out of Vanity Fair Photoshoot in Solidarity with Striking Condé Nast Employees

Anne Hathaway channels her 'Devil Wears Prada' role, exiting Vanity Fair shoot in support of Condé Nast strikers. Solidarity is always in style!

In a move reminiscent of her iconic character, Andy Sachs, Anne Hathaway recently took a bold step by walking out of a Vanity Fair photoshoot as a gesture of solidarity with the striking Condé Nast employees. The actress, known for her role in "The Devil Wears Prada," where she portrayed a fictional editorial assistant at Runway, one of the publisher's iconic brands, demonstrated her commitment to real-world advocacy.

News of the 24-hour strike, initiated on Tuesday by nearly 400 employees from popular Condé Nast brands like Vanity Fair, Vogue, GQ, and others, reached Hathaway while she was in the midst of preparations for the photoshoot. The strike was in protest of the layoff plan announced by the company, coinciding deliberately with the broadcast of the 2024 Oscar nominations.

Upon being notified by SAG-AFTRA of the impending strike, Hathaway, who was in the process of getting her hair and makeup done, made a decisive choice. According to a source, “They hadn’t even started taking photos yet. Once Anne was made aware of what was going on, she just got up from hair and makeup and left.”

The protest outside Condé Nast's New York City office featured signs reading "Layoffs are out of fashion" and "Jobs 4 employees? Groundbreaking," emphasizing the discontent among the workforce. Social media platforms were flooded with footage from the rally, showcasing a step-and-repeat, red carpet, and chants such as "Bosses wear Prada, workers get nada" and a play on Vogue Editor in Chief Anna Wintour's name.

Ben Dewey, vice chair of the CNE unit of the Condé Nast Union, stated, “Our 24-hour walkout is about standing firmly behind our colleagues and showing Condé Nast management in the clearest possible way that we will not tolerate their disrespect at the bargaining table over these layoffs. It is time to start bargaining in good faith with us.”

The strike was a response to the announcement made in November 2023 by Condé Nast CEO Roger Lynch, revealing plans to lay off more than 300 employees. Anne Hathaway's swift and decisive action adds a significant celebrity voice to the ongoing struggle for fair treatment and job security within the media conglomerate.