Drew Barrymore pauses talk show amid backlash; hopes for resolution of Hollywood strikes

After being slammed for announcing the return of her talk show amid the ongoing Hollywood strikes, Drew Barrymore has now reversed her decision. The actor-producer and show host said she is pausing The Drew Barrymore Show until the writers' strike is resolved.

Drew Barrymore had announced the return of her talk show for Season 4 beginning September 18, 2023. She had apologized to the Writers' Guild of America (WGA), the union behind the writers’ strike in the US, for doing so. She explained in a video on September 15 saying that she needs to keep her show running to pay the crew. But the actor deleted the video the same day, after backlash from her fans and the film industry.

Considering her decision was harming the show and her image, Drew Barrymore seems to have reversed her call.


Drew Barrymore released a statement on Instagram on September 17, 2023, saying, "I am making the decision to pause the show’s premiere until the strike is over."

Here’s the full statement of Drew Barrymore on pausing The Drew Barrymore Show Season 4:

"I have listened to everyone, and I am making the decision to pause the show’s premiere until the strike is over. I have no words to express my deepest apologies to anyone I have hurt and, of course, to our incredible team who works on the show and has made it what it is today. We really tried to find our way forward. And I truly hope for a resolution for the entire industry very soon."

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The Hollywood Reporter said that a spokesperson for The Drew Barrymore Show shared in a separate statement: “We support Drew’s decision to pause the show’s return and understand how complex and difficult this process has been for her.”

Drew Barrymore’s move to pause her talk show for now has been appreciated by the industry and her fans.

FAQs

When did the 2023 WGA strike begin?
The 2023 strike by the Writers’ Guild of America (WGA) began on May 2, 2023, with the support of 11,500 Hollywood writers. The strike was for better pay and conditions, and against the use of artificial intelligence or AI in writing in Hollywood.

When did the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike begin?
The SAG-AFTRA strike of 2023 began on July 14, 2023, when thousands of Hollywood actors joined the writers in demand for better pay and working conditions.