Hollywood actress Evangeline Lilly has broken her silence over Disney’s recent wave of layoffs, criticising the entertainment giant for dismissing a large number of employees, including key creatives behind the Marvel franchise.
The “Ant-Man” star expressed strong disapproval of the company’s decision, particularly its move towards replacing human creativity with artificial intelligence, which she described as a troubling development.
Lilly, who recently stepped away from acting indefinitely after more than two decades in the industry, is widely recognised for her roles in Lost, The Hobbit, and the Marvel Cinematic Universe. In an Instagram video, she addressed reports of the layoffs, beginning by sharing a clip that claimed approximately 1,000 employees, including nearly the entire visual development team at Marvel, had been let go. The voice-over in the clip described the situation as “a bloodbath at Disney,” a sentiment Lilly said she shared.
She explained that she verified the information by contacting her friend Andy Park before speaking publicly. According to Lilly, Park was “the genius behind creating the original Wasp supersuit and the original Wasp concept drawings for the film Ant-Man and the Wasp.” He confirmed the layoffs and disclosed that he was among the affected staff.
Lilly said she found it shocking that the company would dismiss the very artists responsible for creating and designing many of its iconic characters. “I am so sorry, Andy, and I am so sorry to every single one of the artists who were let go,” she said, lamenting that the team had now been “considered obsolete.” She urged Marvel fans to take a moment to honour and pray for the affected creatives, concluding, “I stand with all the artists and Andy, I’m so sorry, and I love you guys.”
Beyond the video, Lilly also shared a lengthy caption praising the dedication of the artists she worked with during her time in the Marvel universe. She directly criticised Disney, tagging its official Instagram account and writing: “SHAME ON YOU for turning your back on the people who built the power you are now using to throw them away.”
She extended her criticism to lawmakers in California, questioning the lack of protections for creative works in the age of artificial intelligence. “Where are the laws that REMOVE all human art from the AI bank?!?” she asked. Lilly argued that artists’ work should be safeguarded to prevent executives from exploiting their creations for AI development, adding that the current system disproportionately benefits those at the top while workers struggle.
Earlier in the month, Disney executive Josh D’Amaro confirmed that up to 1,000 employees across various divisions would be laid off. Reports indicate that Marvel has been significantly impacted, with about 8 percent of its workforce affected.
According to Deadline, the layoffs span multiple departments within Marvel’s New York and Burbank offices, including film and television production, finance, franchise management, legal, and comics. The cuts to the visual development department have been particularly extensive. Under a new operational strategy, Marvel Studios will retain a smaller internal team while outsourcing creative work to external contractors on a project-by-project basis. This follows a smaller round of layoffs that took place in 2024.
In a memo sent to staff on April 14, D’Amaro stated that the company would be eliminating roles to “streamline [their] operations” and continue delivering high-quality creativity and innovation. He explained that the rapidly evolving nature of the entertainment industry requires a more “agile and technologically-enabled workforce to meet tomorrow’s needs.”
Further reports from Variety suggest that the layoffs are linked to Disney’s restructuring efforts, including the formation of a consolidated enterprise marketing division led by Asad Ayaz, the company’s chief marketing and brand officer. D’Amaro acknowledged the difficulty of the decision, noting that the affected employees had made meaningful contributions to the company. He emphasised that the layoffs were not a reflection of their performance or the company’s overall strength, but rather part of an ongoing effort to reallocate resources and position Disney for future growth.
In addition to addressing the layoffs, Lilly also opened up about her personal health struggles. She revealed that she experiences recurring fainting episodes, despite medical tests showing no underlying condition. The actress said she had dealt with such episodes since childhood and had previously been tested for epilepsy.
At one point, she believed she might be suffering from Hypoglycaemia, a condition defined by the Mayo Clinic as having abnormally low blood sugar levels, which can cause symptoms such as dizziness, headaches, and light-headedness. However, Lilly later ruled this out after observing that her glucose levels remained stable, even after extended fasting.
She now views the episodes as her body signalling exhaustion and her need for emotional and spiritual balance. While discussing her decision to step away from acting, Lilly clarified that it was not driven by health concerns. Instead, she intends to focus on her personal life, writing, and humanitarian efforts.
