Seth Rogen roasts WGA after winning SAG-AFTRA Actor Award amid cancelled ceremony

Seth Rogen brought his signature humour to the stage at the 2026 SAG-AFTRA Actor Awards, taking a playful jab at the Writers Guild of America West after their awards ceremony was canceled.

Rogen won Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series for his work on The Studio, beating fellow nominees including Adam Brody (Nobody Wants This), Ted Danson (A Man on the Inside), Martin Short (Only Murders in the Building), and colleague Ike Barinholtz.

As he accepted the award on the Netflix-streamed ceremony, Rogen couldn’t resist a cheeky dig at the WGA:

"You were able to pay your own employees enough to keep the awards show from being cancelled. Take notes, WGA."

The WGA West had announced the cancellation of its March 8 ceremony following an internal dispute that saw its staff union strike nearly two weeks ago. 

Rogen’s playful roast came just hours after the news broke, drawing laughs from the audience.

He also joked about competing with Barinholtz:

"I hoped my ego was strong enough to withstand losing to Ike. I’m glad I don’t have to find out. I would have been meaner to you at work no matter what, it would have created a weird dynamic. I can admit that."

Rogen, who created the Apple series, reflected on his dual roles in writing and performing:

"I always, honestly, kind of consider myself more of a writer who is able to write myself roles that I then kind of force people to allow me to perform in. But this actually makes me feel like an actor for this evening, so I really appreciate it."

The win adds to The Studio’s ongoing awards season momentum, as it continues to collect accolades ahead of its anticipated second season.