Matt Walsh Walks Away From 'DWTS' as ABC Considers Delaying the Premiere

If Dancing with the Stars does premiere as scheduled next Tuesday—and it is in doubt as to whether it will or not—Matt Walsh will not be in the ballroom.

The Veep star, who is partnered with Koko Iwasaki, became the target of striking writers this week when they began picketing outside the DWTS rehearsal spaces. Some of the placards specifically called out Matt, who is a WGA member.

Related: Will Dancing with the Stars Be Postponed Due to the Strikes?

In response, Matt issued the following statement:

“I am taking a pause from Dancing with the Stars until an agreement is made with the WGA. I was excited to join the show and did so under the impression that it was not a WGA show and fell under a different agreement. This morning when I was informed by my union, the WGA, that it is considered struck work, I walked out of my rehearsal. I have been and will always stand with my union members of the WGA, SAG and DGA. Beyond our union artists, I am sensitive to the many people impacted by the strike, and I hope for a speedy and fair resolution, and to one day work again with all the wonderful people I met at DWTS who tolerated my dancing.”

Also outside of the rehearsal hall, strikers are targeting Alyson Hannigan and Mira Sorvino, pressuring them to withdraw from the competition until the strike is settled.

DWTS had planned to go ahead with Season 32 because talent-wise, it falls under the SAG-AFTRA “Network Code” contract, which permits talk and variety shows and daytime dramas to continue working. But it remains to be seen if Alyson and Mira will cross a picket line. As SAG-AFTRA members, they could refuse to do so in support of a fellow union.

Related: Get a First Look at the New Dancing with the Stars Hosting Team

It was WGA member David Slack, who first brought attention on Twitter to the fact that DWTS was considered a struck show, and today he tweeted:

“Heard an EP on DWTS told the stars our strike shouldn’t effect them because it’s ‘just one writer.’ Just one writer. But more than 50 writers picketed their rehearsal to protect that writer’s job. ‘Cause if you mess with one of us, you answer to all of us. Solidarity.”

Today, Variety reports that ABC is putting plans in place to postpone the Dancing With the Stars premiere, especially if more of the stars were to exit.

There is possible good news, though. Today the WGA is back at the table bargaining with the major studios and the word coming out is that it is “hopeful” that there will be a settlement. It is aided by the fact that several top CEOs were also present for the negotiations: Bob Iger of Disney, Ted Sarandos of Netflix, Donna Langley of NBCUniversal and David Zaslav of Warner Bros. Discovery—and these are people who can get things done.

Next, Jason! Ariana! Lele! Here's the Celebrity and Professional Cast for Dancing with the Stars Season 32