Drew Barrymore Went Back On Her Decision To Resume Her Talk Show Amid The WGA Strike — Here's What She Said
Drew Barrymore made a new announcement regarding the return of The Drew Barrymore Show amid the Writers Guild of America strike.
The WGA declared the strike on May 2 after failing to reach an agreement with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers — with demands like restrictions on artificial intelligence and fair wages. Almost all WGA shows halted production, with a few announcing returns, but none have received the same backlash as The Drew Barrymore Show.
When it was announced that the show would resume despite the strike, Drew responded to the backlash in a now-deleted Instagram statement, writing, "I want to be there to provide what writers do so well, which is a way to bring us together or help us make sense of the human experience."
The 48-year-old actor continued to receive backlash from writers, celebrities, and supporters of the WGA strike, including a statement from the WGA itself, which tweeted that her show "is a WGA covered, struck show that is planning to return without its writers. The Guild has, and will continue to, picket struck shows that are in production during the strike. Any writing on 'The Drew Barrymore Show' is in violation of WGA strike rules."
The @DrewBarrymoreTV Show is a WGA covered, struck show that is planning to return without its writers. The Guild has, and will continue to, picket struck shows that are in production during the strike. Any writing on “The Drew Barrymore Show” is in violation of WGA strike rules.
— Writers Guild of America, East (@WGAEast) September 10, 2023
Drew followed up with another now-deleted Instagram apology video. "I believe that there is nothing I can say or do in this moment to make it okay," she started. "I wanted to own a decision so that it wasn't a PR-protected situation and I would just take full responsibility for my actions."
"I fully accept that. I fully understand that. There are so many reasons why this is so complex. I just want everyone to know my intentions have never been in a place to upset or hurt anyone. That's not who I am."
She continued that she's been "through so many ups and downs" and apologized to the writers and unions that the hard decision to return was bigger than her, since there are "other people's jobs on the line." She added that if the show could endure the 2020 pandemic, "why would [the WGA strike] sideline us?"
Despite her attempt at a second apology, Drew received even more backlash for the now-deleted video.
Now, in a new Instagram post, she announced the decision to pause the return of The Drew Barrymore Show after all.
"I have listened to everyone, and I am making the decision to pause the show's premiere until the strike is over," she wrote. "I have no words to express my deepest apologies to anyone I have hurt and, of course, to our incredible team who works on the show and has made it what it is today."
