Drew Barrymore 'deeply apologizes' to unions ahead of talk show return
- By Reuters -
- Sep 16, 2023
Actor Drew Barrymore issued a video apology to striking Hollywood writers on Friday but said she will go forward with plans to resume her talk show next week.
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Drew Barrymore has been subject to protests by members of the Writers Guild of America (WGA) who argue that she is violating terms of their work stoppage by filming new episodes of ‘The Drew Barrymore Show.’ The first is scheduled to air on Monday.
In a video posted on Instagram, Drew Barrymore’s voice quivered as she addressed the backlash.
“I deeply apologize to writers. I deeply apologize to unions,” she said.
Writers don’t need an apology, @DrewBarrymore. We need you to stop doing a show that cannot be made without scab writing.
When you cause harm, apologies are meaningless until you stop causing harm. Just #StopScabbingDrew pic.twitter.com/4EIGt5iEmN
— David Slack (@slack2thefuture) September 15, 2023
Drew Barrymore said she decided to go forward in part because “other people’s jobs are on the line.” Thousands of crew members have been out of work since the WGA strike began in May and shut down production. More filming ground to a halt when members of the SAG-AFTRA actors union walked off the job in July.
In addition, Drew Barrymore said she “wanted to make a show that was there for people in sensitive times.”
Why The Drew Barrymore Show is TV’s most viral talk show https://t.co/Tu3rqBgTyr pic.twitter.com/iwVpNHtYTo
— The A.V. Club (@TheAVClub) May 11, 2023
Drew Barrymore repeated that she believes her show will comply with strike restrictions.
“There’s nothing I can do to make this OK to those this is not OK with,” she added. “I fully accept that.”
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Other talk shows also are planning to return to TV shortly. ‘Real Time‘ host Bill Maher said he was bringing back his HBO show without written pieces such as a monologue and will focus on debates with guests.
The WGA said it was “difficult to imagine” how Bill Maher, a WGA member, could host the show and still comply with strike rules. The union said members would picket the filming of ‘Real Time.’