Drew Barrymore announced Sunday that she will “pause” production on the new season of “The Drew Barrymore Show” until the writers’ strike ends.
“I have listened to everyone and am making the decision to pause the premiere of the show until the strike is over,” Barrymore wrote on Instagram. “I am at a loss for words to sincerely apologize to everyone I have hurt and of course to our incredible team who work on the show and have made it what it is today. We were really trying to find the way forward. And I really hope for a solution for the entire industry soon.”
Barrymore announced last week that her talk show would begin its new season as the Writers Guild of America strike continues. On Friday, Barrymore posted a video on Instagram comparing continuing her show during the writers’ strike to continuing during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I don’t think there’s anything I can do or say at this moment to make everything right,” she said in the now-deleted video. “I wanted to make the decision that this was not a PR-protected situation and I…take full responsibility…I know there’s just nothing I can do to make this right for those who aren’t.” “It’s okay.”
Barrymore had said, “I deeply apologize to the writers” and “I deeply apologize to the unions,” but said she would continue with the show.
After the video was met with backlash from writers and actors, including Debra Messing and David Krumholtz, Barrymore deleted the video the same day without explanation.
“For thousands, it is complex,” Krumholtz wrote. “Who continue to strike and follow the strike rules.”
The WGA said in a statement that Barrymore “should not be on the air while her writers are striking and fighting for a fair deal.”
“Shows like this can’t work without writing, and that’s good work,” the statement continued. (HuffPost’s unionized employees are represented by the Writers Guild of America, East.)
On Saturday, Rosie O’Donnell, who hosted her own talk show in the ’90s, offered advice to Barrymore from an essay by Elizabeth Gray.
“Stop taping the show. Stop asking the public to cross the picket lines,” reads part of O’Donnell’s essay posted on her Instagram.
“Then ask someone to help you write three declarative sentences. You should go in this direction: I made a mistake. I apologize to the WGA for disrespecting the work of professional authors. “I apologize to all union members who have to endure real hardship while I live a life of luxury,” it continued.
Barrymore originally expressed solidarity with the writers’ strike when she resigned from her position as host of the MTV Movie and TV Awards in May.
“I have listened to the writers, and to truly respect them, I will be refraining from the live broadcast of the MTV Movie & TV Awards in solidarity with the strike,” Barrymore said in a statement to HuffPost at the time.
But when she announced that her talk show would resume during the writers’ strike, the National Book Foundation rescinded its invitation to Barrymore to host the 74th National Book Awards.
“Our commitment is to ensure that the focus of the awards remains on celebrating writers and books. “We are grateful to Ms. Barrymore and her team for their understanding of this situation,” he said the foundation said in a statement last week.