Drew Barrymore removed as National Book Awards host after controversial return to her talk show amid WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes
The fallout from Drew Barrymore’s controversial decision to return to her talk show amid the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes continues as the actress was removed as host of the National Book Awards.
The National Book Foundation announced in late July that Barrymore would host the 74th National Book Awards, and that Oprah Winfrey would be a guest speaker.
However, Barrymore’s decision to resume production of her show without WGA writers led to the National Book Foundation removing her as host.
The National Book Awards are scheduled for November 15 in Manhattan, although the National Book Foundation has not yet announced a new presenter.
Barrymore herself has not yet publicly commented on the announcement, although it’s possible she will do so when her show returns on September 18.
Fallout: Fallout from Drew Barrymore’s controversial decision to return to her talk show amid the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes continues as the actress was removed as host of the National Book Awards
Awards: The National Book Awards are scheduled for November 15 in Manhattan, although the National Book Foundation has not yet announced a new presenter
“The National Book Awards is an evening dedicated to celebrating the power of literature and the incomparable contributions of writers to our culture,” the National Book Foundation said in a statement Tuesday.
“In light of the announcement that The Drew Barrymore Show will resume production, the National Book Foundation has rescinded Ms. Barrymore’s invitation to host the 74th National Book Awards Ceremony,” the statement concluded.
Barrymore’s decision to resume production on her show comes just four months after she pulled out of hosting the MTV Movie & TV Awards in solidarity with the standout writers.
“I listened to the writers, and to truly respect them, I will be stepping away from live hosting of the MTV Movie & TV Awards in solidarity with the strike,” Drew said in a statement on May 4, just two days after the strike. WGA strike began.
She addressed that decision in her Instagram post on Sunday, where she announced that filming will begin on The Drew Barrymore Show.
“I chose to walk away from the MTV, Film and Television Awards because I was the presenter and it had a direct conflict with what the strike was about, which was studios, streamers, film and television. It was also the first week of the strike and so I did what I thought was right at the time to stand in solidarity with the writers,” she said.
She added that the final season of her show ended on April 20, before the WGA strike, adding that she never had to close her show.
“However, I am also making the choice to come back into this strike for the first time for our show, which may have my name on it, but it is bigger than just me,” she said.
Production: Barrymore’s decision to resume production on her show comes just four months after she pulled out of hosting the MTV Movie & TV Awards in solidarity with the notable writers
Choice: “However, I am also making the choice to come back into this strike for the first time for our show, which may have my name on it, but this is bigger than just me,” she said
“I own this choice. “We are in agreement with not discussing or promoting film and television that has been affected in any way,” she added.
She added that her show “launched live in a global pandemic” and that her show was “built for sensitive times,” adding that she wants, “to be there to provide what writers do so well, which is a way to bring us together or help us understand the human experience.”
‘I hope for a solution for everyone as soon as possible. We’ve been through some tough times since we first hit the airwaves. And so I take a step forward to begin Season 4 anew with astute humility,” she concluded.
The decision received a sharp response from the Writers Guild of America East, which made it clear that her show was a “struck” show.
‘The @DrewBarrymoreTV Show is a WGA-covered, successful show that plans to return without the writers. The Guild has, and will continue to have, picket shows in production during the strike. Any writing about The Drew Barrymore Show violates the WGA’s strike rules,” the guild’s tweet said.
Although Drew is a member of SAG-AFTRA, her return does not actually violate the strike rules, as daytime talk show hosts are subject to another SAG-AFTRA contract that was extended and ratified last year.
However, her show employs at least three WGA writers, all of whom were protesting Monday outside the CBS Broadcast Center in New York City, where Barrymore’s show is filmed.
“The only people I’m sure won’t go back are us, three WGA writers. And the rest of it, I can’t really speak,” Chelsea White, one of the show’s writers, said on the picket line.
Pointed: The decision received a sharp response from the Writers Guild of America East, which made it clear that her show was a ‘struck’ show
“I think, first of all, this is clearly much bigger than just The Drew Barrymore Show and writers. We stand behind our union here and feel great and excited to always stand behind our union,” she said.
While many writers performed outside the studio, it was revealed on social media that some audience members who tried to get into the show with WGA strike buttons were kicked out of the taping.
“I went to @DrewBarrymoreTV after winning tickets, unaware of the #WGA strike. We grabbed pins and went in, got kicked out and verbally assaulted by the @DrewBarrymore crew. Clearly they don’t support #WGAStrong, writers or fans! #DrewTheRightThing So we took shirts and joined in. F**k that,” Dominic Turiczek tweeted on Monday.
He clarified in another tweet: “We knew about the #WGA strike, just didn’t know they were picketing on Drew’s show. Until inside, we didn’t know her show had WGA writers, so we crossed the picket lines by starting over. We won the tickets at the last minute and clearly didn’t do enough research.’