![[US] Backlash against Drew Barrymore for restarting talkshow amid writers’ strike](http://gpa.net/cdn/shop/articles/bigstock-LOS-ANGELES--FEB---Drew-Ba-170776019_1200x.jpg?v=1694629344)
In the US, the actress and television host Drew Barrymore has been strongly criitcised the decision to restart her daytime talkshow without its unionised writers amid the Writers Guild of America (WGA) strike, The Guardian reports.
More than a dozen demonstrators picketed in front of CBS Studios in New York on September 11 to protest Ms Barrymore’s decision to resume production of her talkshow’s fourth season. They were chanting slogans like “shut it down”.
Writers on Ms Barrymore’s own show, 'Drew', reportedly joined the picketing, holding signs that read “Drew’s WGA Crew”.
In a September 11 Instagram post, Ms Barrymore announced that she was choosing to restart her show but added that the talkshow would not promote “film and television that is struck of any kind”.
“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,” Ms Barrymore’s post said.
The WGA condemned the restart of production as a “violation” of union rules, as the talkshow was “a WGA-covered, struck show”.
“The Guild has, and will continue to, picket struck shows that are in production during the strike,” WGA East wrote on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.
In addition, two audience members claimed on social media that they had been ‘kicked out’ of Monday’s taping for wearing WGA pins.
In a viral tweet, audience member Dominic Turiczek claimed that he and a guest were “kicked out” and “verbally assaulted” by crew members on Ms Barrymore’s show for wearing a pin reading “Writers Guild On Strike”.
“It’s clear they don’t support #WGAStrong, writers or fans! #DrewTheRightThing So we took shirts and joined. Fuck that,” Mr Turiczek tweeted.
A spokesperson for the ‘Drew’ show told the Hollywood Reporter that the incident was the result of “heightened security concerns” and that the audience members would be offered additional tickets.
On September 12, the National Book Foundation announced that it would rescind Ms Barrymore’s invitation to host the National Book Awards in response to her decision to restart the talkshow.
“The National Book Awards is an evening dedicated to celebrating the power of literature and the incomparable contributions of writers to our culture,” the foundation said in a statement. “Our commitment is to ensure that the focus of the awards remains on celebrating writers and books.”
Other talkshows have now reportedly announced that they will resume production despite dual strikes of WGA and the Sag-Aftra unions.
CBS’s show The Talk, the Jennifer Hudson Show and Sherri - hosted by Sherri Shepherd - will also be returning to production, according to the Hollywood Reporter.
Ms Barrymore has hosted the Drew Barrymore Show since its debut in 2020. She was widely praised in May after she pulled out of hosting the MTV Movie & TV Awards in solidarity with striking writers.
On September 18, Ms Barrymore announced that she had reversed her decision.
Source: The Guardian
(Links and quotes via original reporting)
In the US, the actress and television host Drew Barrymore has been strongly criitcised the decision to restart her daytime talkshow without its unionised writers amid the Writers Guild of America (WGA) strike, The Guardian reports.
More than a dozen demonstrators picketed in front of CBS Studios in New York on September 11 to protest Ms Barrymore’s decision to resume production of her talkshow’s fourth season. They were chanting slogans like “shut it down”.
Writers on Ms Barrymore’s own show, 'Drew', reportedly joined the picketing, holding signs that read “Drew’s WGA Crew”.
In a September 11 Instagram post, Ms Barrymore announced that she was choosing to restart her show but added that the talkshow would not promote “film and television that is struck of any kind”.
“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,” Ms Barrymore’s post said.
The WGA condemned the restart of production as a “violation” of union rules, as the talkshow was “a WGA-covered, struck show”.
“The Guild has, and will continue to, picket struck shows that are in production during the strike,” WGA East wrote on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.
In addition, two audience members claimed on social media that they had been ‘kicked out’ of Monday’s taping for wearing WGA pins.
In a viral tweet, audience member Dominic Turiczek claimed that he and a guest were “kicked out” and “verbally assaulted” by crew members on Ms Barrymore’s show for wearing a pin reading “Writers Guild On Strike”.
“It’s clear they don’t support #WGAStrong, writers or fans! #DrewTheRightThing So we took shirts and joined. Fuck that,” Mr Turiczek tweeted.
A spokesperson for the ‘Drew’ show told the Hollywood Reporter that the incident was the result of “heightened security concerns” and that the audience members would be offered additional tickets.
On September 12, the National Book Foundation announced that it would rescind Ms Barrymore’s invitation to host the National Book Awards in response to her decision to restart the talkshow.
“The National Book Awards is an evening dedicated to celebrating the power of literature and the incomparable contributions of writers to our culture,” the foundation said in a statement. “Our commitment is to ensure that the focus of the awards remains on celebrating writers and books.”
Other talkshows have now reportedly announced that they will resume production despite dual strikes of WGA and the Sag-Aftra unions.
CBS’s show The Talk, the Jennifer Hudson Show and Sherri - hosted by Sherri Shepherd - will also be returning to production, according to the Hollywood Reporter.
Ms Barrymore has hosted the Drew Barrymore Show since its debut in 2020. She was widely praised in May after she pulled out of hosting the MTV Movie & TV Awards in solidarity with striking writers.
On September 18, Ms Barrymore announced that she had reversed her decision.
Source: The Guardian
(Links and quotes via original reporting)