In a candid video statement shared on her Instagram account, Drew Barrymore addresses the controversy surrounding her decision to resume production of “The Drew Barrymore Show” amid the ongoing Writers Guild strike. The actress and talk show host acknowledges critics while emphasizing her commitment to following the strike rules set by the Writers Guild of America (WGA).
Barrymore begins her statement by expressing her surprise at the level of attention her decision has garnered. She reiterates CBS Media Ventures’ assertion that the show will return in compliance with the WGA’s strike rules. Despite facing backlash from union members and the picketing that ensued outside CBS Broadcast Center in New York as taping resumed, Barrymore maintains her commitment to adhering to the rules.
“I certainly couldn’t have expected this kind of attention,” Barrymore acknowledges. “We aren’t gonna break rules, and we will be in compliance. I wanted to do this because as I said, this is bigger than me, and there are other people’s jobs on the line.”
Barrymore refutes claims that a “PR” machine influenced her decision to resume the show without its WGA writers. She emphasizes her desire to take responsibility for her actions and decisions. Her choice to return to the show, she clarifies, is not about hiding behind publicists or corporate rhetoric but about standing up and accepting responsibility.
CBS Media Ventures, the producer and distributor of “The Drew Barrymore Show,” is part of Paramount Global, one of the media companies against which the striking writers are protesting. While daytime talk shows like Barrymore’s do employ WGA writers, they typically have fewer of them compared to late-night shows or scripted series.
Barrymore also sheds light on her decision’s rationale, citing her show’s experiences during the pandemic. She highlights her desire to create a program that provides support and comfort to viewers during sensitive times, emphasizing the need for shows that can be a source of realism and solace in challenging times.
“Since launching live in a pandemic, I just wanted to make a show that was there for people in sensitive times,” Barrymore explains. “I weighed the scales, and I thought if we could go on during a global pandemic, and everything that the world 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.”
As the controversy surrounding her show’s return continues, Drew Barrymore remains resolute in her commitment to providing meaningful content to her audience while navigating the complexities of the Writers Guild strike.
