Arrow star Stephen Amell explains why he decided to join SAG-AFTRA picket line in NYC after saying he didn’t support act of striking: ‘I didn’t choose my words as carefully as I should’

Stephen Amell is back in Los Angeles after joining the SAG-AFTRA strike picket line in New York on Friday

His show of solidarity for the American actors’ union came on the heels of the backlash he received for saying he didn’t support the act of striking.

But since then Amell appears to have changed his tune on the issue, realizing that the strike is for a larger purpose.

Moments after touching down in California on Saturday, the Toronto, Canada native elaborated on these past two weeks, where he denied doing a 180 in terms of the strike, telling a TMZ photographer at LAX Airport that he just misspoke at first.

‘I think when I spoke the first time I didn’t choose my words as carefully as I should, the Arrow star, 42, maintained. ‘I always said I support my union. Not supporting the strike was a wrong choice of words, plain and simple. I put my foot in my mouth and I’m trying to take ownership of it.’

After taking a moment to let the ‘180’ comment to sink in, Amell would again address the accusation and deny he did any kind of flip-flop.

‘I hesitate to say that I did a 180,’ he added. ‘It’s just more that I should have spoken more clearly and decisively.’

Amell now says he’s been educated on the process of the strike after speaking to SAG leadership, who explained it wasn’t done lightly.

When asked if he felt any backlash from SAG leadership during the meeting, the actor maintained he didn’t get a sense that ‘they were ever particularly mad’ at him.

‘I appreciate they took the time to talk with me basically on the day that this all went down,’ he said. It was nice to talk with them. They really educated me on the objectives of the strike and the importance of the strike.

He went on to share how he feels everyone involved just wants to be ‘treated fairly.’

‘I guess what I should have understood before is that no one comes to these decisions lightly. They don’t. Striking is challenging and difficult,’ he explained.

When confronted by the photographer about how he’s able to endure a strike financially, better than most due to his success, Amell agreed that he’s able to withstand the pitfalls of a long work shutdown.