Drew Barrymore Halts Talk Show Amid Backlash Over Strike Controversy
Drew Barrymore has made the decision to pause production on her US talk show after facing strong criticism for moving forward with it during a strike by actors and writers.
In a statement posted on Instagram, Barrymore acknowledged that she had “listened to everyone” and would postpone the show’s premiere until the strike came to an end.
This move comes right after Barrymore posted a heartfelt video on Instagram, where she accepted responsibility for the controversy. She stated, “I know there’s just nothing I can do that will make this OK.” It appears that the video has since been removed.
The fourth season of “The Drew Barrymore Show” was set to debut on CBS on Monday, September 18, but it was going ahead without the participation of the striking writers.
While the SAG-AFTRA union mentioned that the 48-year-old actress hosting the program technically did not violate the current strike rules, critics argued that her decision undermined the strike and showed a lack of solidarity with her fellow industry colleagues.
Barrymore also faced accusations of being a “scab” and was removed as the host of November’s National Book Awards in the US when she initially chose to proceed with the show earlier this month.
In her initial statement about the decision, she emphasized, “I’m making the choice to come back for the first time in this strike for our show, that may have my name on it but this is bigger than just me.” She also took ownership of her choice.
In her latest statement on Sunday, Barrymore expressed deep apologies to anyone she may have hurt, especially her incredible team that has contributed to the show’s success. She said, “We really tried to find our way forward. And I truly hope for a resolution for the entire industry very soon.”
In May, US writers in the film and TV industry initiated strike action, later joined by actors and performers in July. This marks the most significant industrial action in the industry in over 60 years.