Title: Drew Barrymore Faces Backlash for Resuming Talk Show Production Amidst Writers’ Strike
Subtitle: The Writers Guild of America criticizes Barrymore’s decision while thousands of writers continue strike
Date: [Insert Date]
Byline: [Author Name]
Popular actress and talk show host Drew Barrymore has come under fire from the Writers Guild of America (WGA) for her recent decision to resume production on her talk show amidst an ongoing strike. With more than 11,000 television and film writers participating in the strike, Barrymore’s move has been met with criticism and sparked controversy within the entertainment industry.
Barrymore addressed her decision in an Instagram statement over the weekend, referencing her past choice to abstain from hosting the MTV, film, and television awards due to a conflict with the ongoing strike. She explained, “This is bigger than just me. Our show wrapped on April 20th, so we never had to shut down. However, I am making the choice to come back for the first time during this strike.”
The strike has caused production on various film and television projects to grind to a halt, as the Writers Guild and the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) remain deadlocked in contract negotiations with major studios and streamers.
In response to Barrymore’s decision, the Writers Guild of America, East announced that they would be picketing her New York based talk show. A tweet from the WGA’s Twitter account confirmed, “The @DrewBarrymoreTV Show is a WGA covered, struck show that is planning to return without its writers… Any writing on ‘The Drew Barrymore Show’ is in violation of WGA strike rules.”
Barrymore, who is also an executive producer of the show, defended her choice in the statement, noting that she understands the importance of the strikes and the need for solidarity among talk shows. She emphasized, “We are in compliance with not discussing or promoting struck films and television… 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.”
CBS Media Ventures, the production company behind Barrymore’s show, released a statement assuring that “The Drew Barrymore Show will not be performing any writing work covered by the WGA strike,” downplaying the concerns raised by the guild.
The controversy surrounding Barrymore’s decision comes as other daytime talk shows, such as “The View,” “Tamron Hall,” and “Live with Kelly and Mark,” continue to air new episodes amid the strike.
The Drew Barrymore Show is set to return on September 18th, with CBS News and Stations president and CEO Wendy McMahon expressing excitement to bring fans and station clients new episodes this fall.
As the strike persists, it remains to be seen how Barrymore’s choice will impact her show and her standing within the entertainment industry. The ongoing dispute between writers and major studios and streamers shows no signs of being resolved in the near future.