Drew Barrymore Decided To Pause Her Show Until WGA Strike Ends
By Melanie VanDerveer on September 18, 2023 at 3:30 AM EDT
After a week of backlash over filming new episodes of "The Drew Barrymore Show" amid the Writers Guild of America and SAG-AFTRA strike, host Drew Barrymore has decided to pause production of her show until the strike is over.
The actress and talk show host recently announced her decision on Instagram and many people shared their support in the comment section.
Drew Barrymore Announces She's Pausing Her Show Until The Strike Ends
After announcing on social media a week ago that she will in fact film new episodes of her show during the strike, many took to the comment section of her post to share their disappointment in her decision. Barrymore then issued an apology and explanation about her "why" but after more backlash, took the post down. And now a week after her first announcement, she's changed her mind about filming amid the strike.
"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," she wrote in the caption and on the photo shared on Instagram.
"We really tried to find our way forward. And I truly hope for a resolution for the entire industry very soon."
Many followers shared their thoughts about her original decision and change of heart in the comment section.
"I know you had good intentions trying to take care of your other employees, but I think this was the right move. This will help everyone overall once they finally cave. I’m proud of you! I know this was a very difficult decision," one person wrote.
Another added, "All of this could’ve been avoided if you would’ve stood with creatives from the start, your poor decision created a ripple effect with other shows now looking at ways to sidestep the strike and it of course has damaged your brand. Glad you came to this realization now but it cost you."
One fan shared why her decision to pause the show is the right one for everyone.
"This is definitely the right choice on SO MANY levels. You grew up in this industry. You KNOW how important it is to stand in solidarity with the writers until the strike is over. Your show wouldn’t have lasted long if you went forward with the premier. This is surely the best way to go about what’s best for the writer’s and all people in the industry going forward. STRENGTH IN NUMBERS! 💪🏻"
Drew Barrymore Apologized And Explained Why She Decided To Start The New Season Despite The Strike
A few days prior to this new announcement to pause filming the show, Barrymore issued a video apology on Instagram. The video was taken down not long after she shared it as more backlash filled the comment section.
"I don't exactly know what to say because sometimes when things are so tough, it's hard to make decisions from that place so all I can say is that I wanted to accept responsibility. And no, I don't have a PR machine behind this," she explained.
"My decision to go back to the show, I didn't want to 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 accept and be responsible."
She continued to explain how she didn't expect the attention she was getting for her decision to film new episodes during the strike and said, "this is bigger than me."
"I wanted to do this because as I said, this is bigger than me and there are other people's jobs on the line. And since launching live in a pandemic, I just wanted to make a show that was there for people in sensitive times," she continued.
"And I weighed the scales and I thought, if we could go on during a global pandemic, and everything that the world has experienced through 2020, why would this sideline us? So, I want 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 because that's when I think we all need something that wants to be there, being very realistic in very realistic times. So that is my why."