Colbert accused of crossing Harvard picket line before fire alarm ends talk
The Harvard Graduate Students Union claims the comedian and cellist ignored their demands to cancel, while author John Green moved his own event online to avoid the same issue.
By Grace Sullivan ·
Stephen Colbert and Yo-Yo Ma were accused of crossing a union picket line on Thursday to attend a sold-out event at Harvard University. The Harvard Graduate Students Union, which has been on strike since October 27, said the pair ignored repeated requests to cancel or relocate the appearance. The discussion, titled Arts for Life's Sake, was cut short when a fire alarm sounded roughly 40 minutes into the show at Sanders Theatre. Colbert, Ma, and the audience evacuated the building. The 90-minute conversation did not resume.
About 50 union members demonstrated outside the theater before and during the event. They beat drums, sounded air horns, and chanted slogans demanding higher wages and better working conditions. The union said it contacted both performers in advance through their respective labor organizations. SAG-AFTRA represents Colbert, while the Boston Musicians' Association represents Ma. Neither performer withdrew from the lineup after those contacts.
The strike began on October 27. The union is seeking annual pay of $55,000 for research assistants and about $45,000 for teaching fellows on 10-month appointments. They also want 3% annual raises or cost-of-living adjustments. Other demands include an independent process for handling harassment complaints and legal fee assistance in Title IX cases. The union is also pushing for protections for immigration documents and guaranteed leave for visa delays.
The union specifically noted that Colbert supported striking Hollywood writers in 2023 by joining their picket line. They used this history to argue that the comedian should have reconsidered his appearance. In a social media statement, the union denied any involvement in triggering the fire alarm. They said the alarm was unrelated to their picketing activity. Members said they were relieved that no one inside was at risk.
The union stated that the performers continued the event inside without regard for the picket line. They also said Colbert and Ma refused to speak with union members as they left the venue. The group concluded that the two crossed their picket line. The cause of the fire alarm remains unclear.
Author John Green faced the same choice later. He moved a scheduled Harvard appearance online to avoid crossing the graduate student union's picket line. In a video shared by the union, Green said the decision was easy. He donated the proceeds from that event to the union, according to The Boston Globe.
