Drew Barrymore Put Her Talk Show Back On Hold Amidst Strikes

Drew Barrymore has accumulated a ton of goodwill over her long career, but last week she almost lost it all: She dared to put her daytime talk show back on the air. This decision provoked an instant reaction, not just from the WGA but from fans, some of whom called her a “crust.” The fury was such that she recorded a moving video defending his decision. She finally removed that, then went further.

“I have listened to everyone and am making the decision to suspend the series premiere until the strike is over,” Barrymore wrote on Instagram. as if caught by Variety. “I have no words to express my sincerest apologies to everyone I have hurt and, of course, to our incredible team who work on the show and who have made it what it is today. We’ve really been trying to find our way. And I sincerely hope that there’s an industry-wide solution very soon.”

Barrymore’s decision to effectively cross the picket lines was disconcerting to many given that when the WGA strike began last May, she withdrew from her gig hosting the MTV Movie and TV Awards in solidarity with the strikers. Four months later, she brought back a writerless version of her strange but endearing chat show.

“This choice is mine,” she said at the time. “We promise not to discuss or promote films and television shows of any kind. We launched live in a global pandemic. Our show was built for sensitive moments and only worked through what the real world experiences in real time.

Chaos ensued. During a taping of the first episode back last Monday, audience members wearing pins showing solidarity with the WGA – some of whom were on strike outside Barrymore’s show, some of whom were on staff at his show – were thrown from the building. Barrymore herself was later removed as host of the National Book Awards. But perhaps this mea culpa will be a good first step to restore his quickly tattered image.

(Via Variety)