Drew Barrymore pulls her talk show in U-turn after backlash over writers' strike
Drew Barrymore has announced that the premiere for the new season of her eponymous talk show has been "paused," after receiving a backlash amid ongoing strikes in the US.
The presenter, 48, recently shared that the Drew Barrymore Show would resume production despite the writers' union WGA being on strike. The strike has been ongoing since May, with actors' union SAG-AFTRA similarly on strike since July.
The talk show was set to return for its fourth season on September 18 and Drew had faced criticism over the news that production would resume amid the strikes. It was suggested that the syndicated show would return without any writers and that it would comply with strike rules.
Drew Barrymore has announced that her eponymous talk show won't return until ongoing strikes in the TV and film industry are resolved (CBS)Following a backlash over the announcement, Drew has now revealed that the show's return has been "paused" until the end of the strike. She issued a statement confirming the news on Sunday, which she shared with fans on Instagram.
She wrote on the platform: "I have listened to everyone, and I am making the decision to pause the show's premiere until the strike is over." She went on to apologise to those "hurt" by the previous decision and apologised to her colleagues.
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"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. We really tried to find our way forward. And I truly hope for a resolution for the entire industry very soon," she said.
The statement comes after Drew reportedly apologised in a video - which is said to have since been deleted - that was shared just days ago. It came following criticism over the decision to resume production on the actor's talk show, with some suggesting it didn't show solidarity with those striking.
She issued a statement about the decision on social media this weekend, after being criticised for announcing that the show would resume production (drewbarrymore/Instagram)She said in the video message: "I believe there's nothing I can do or say in this moment to make it okay. 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."
The talk show host continued by saying at the time: "I know there's just nothing I can do that will make this okay for those it is not okay with. I fully accept that. I fully understand that. There are so many reasons why this is so complex. And I just want everyone to know my intentions have never been in a place to hurt or upset anyone. It's not who I am.
"I've been through so many ups and downs in my life and this is one of them. I deeply apologise to writers. I deeply apologise to unions. I deeply apologise. I don't exactly know what to say because sometimes when things are so tough, it's hard to make decisions from that place."
Drew continued: "So, all I can say is that I wanted to accept responsibility. And no, I don't have a PR machine behind this. My decision to go back to the show - I didn't want to hide behind people - so I won't and I won't polish this with bells and whistles and publicists and corporate rhetoric. I'll just stand out there and accept and be responsible.
"There's a huge question as [to] why am I doing this? Well, I certainly couldn't have expected this kind of attention and we aren't gonna break rules and we are gonna be in compliance. I wanted to do this because, as I said, this is bigger than me and there are other people's jobs on the line."
She added: "Since launching live in a pandemic I just wanted to make a show that was there for people in sensitive times. And I weighed the scales and thought 'if we could go on in a global pandemic and everything that the world has experienced through 2020, why would this sideline us?'
"So I wanna just put one foot in front of the other and make a show that's there for people, regardless of anything else that's happening in the world because that's when I think we all need something that wants to be there, being very realistic in very realistic times. So that is my 'why'."
It's been reported that Drew previously said the show's planned return next week - which is now "paused" - would have complied with apparent strike rules that prevent discussion or promotion of film and TV content that is 'struck'.
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According to Variety, writers on the show however are said to be part of WGA, so the show would have required the hiring of non-WGA members or no one at all. CBS Media Ventures, who produce the show, had previously suggested its return would be "completely unscripted until the strike ends".
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