Drew Barrymore defends her decision to resume The Drew Barrymore Show while the WGA strike continues. At least three WGA writers who write for the show are in picket lines while filming continues without them.
“There's nothing I can do or say in this moment to make it okay,” Barrymore said in an Instagram video posted today. “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 know there's nothing I can do to make this okay for those it is not okay with. I fully accept that.”
Barrymore Says She Didn't Want to “Hide Behind People”
Barrymore and Bill Maher received harsh criticism from the WGA and on social media for not showing solidarity with the writers on their respective talk shows. Just the other day, the National Book Awards dropped Barrymore as its host. “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 upset or hurt anyone,” said Barrymore. “That's not who I am. I've been through so many ups and downs in my life — and this is one of them.”
Entertainment Weekly reports that Barrymore offered a “deep apology” to the writers and union, but stopped short of reversing her decision to resume her talk show. “All I can say is that I wanted to accept responsibility,” she said. “My decision to go back to the show… I didn't wanna 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 be responsible.”
Although The Drew Barrymore Show is not in direct violation of either the SAG-AFTRA or WGA strikes, the WGA still considers it a “struck show” and members picket outside the talk show's studio in New York City. Other talk shows such as The View have returned without their writers, but Barrymore received more heat for her decision. The Scream actress continued:
“I certainly couldn't have expected this type of attention. I weighed the scales and I thought if we could go on during a global pandemic and everything that the world experienced through 2020, why would this sideline us? I just wanted to 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.”
ET finding out Drew Barrymore is a scab pic.twitter.com/zNGIgcoA22
— Sabrina Cartan (@sabrinacartan) September 14, 2023
Drew Barrymore has released an apology video about resuming production on ‘THE DREW BARRYMORE SHOW’ whilst her writers are fighting for fair pay.
However, she still plans on being a scab by standing by her decision to continue production. pic.twitter.com/70mrTtsk85
— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) September 15, 2023
drew barrymore crossing the picket line each morning pic.twitter.com/g55jnPN5qe
— follow me on instagram (@ohnochels) September 11, 2023
It's important you see the BRILLIANT strike signs that Drew Barrymore show writers made because they are so good and a further reminder why we need writers and should support them in this strike at all costs. 💪💪💪💪 pic.twitter.com/Z4COkQLon4
— Lane Moore📚 (@hellolanemoore) September 11, 2023
"Not a great move."
Alyssa Milano and other Hollywood union members aren't happy with Drew Barrymore for returning to her daytime talk show during the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. pic.twitter.com/cnRAg9RLMB
— AP Entertainment (@APEntertainment) September 15, 2023
"Unions only work when you stick together with unions across the labor spectrum… would love to see the show stand in solidarity with us, and it’s not too late. ” – @DrewBarrymore Show co-head writer Christina Kinon#WGAstrikehttps://t.co/hPG5pVhKWs
— Writers Guild of America, East (@WGAEast) September 14, 2023
The Drew Barrymore Show airs weekdays on CBS.