Rosie O’Donnell warns Drew Barrymore to STOP taping her chat show while Writers’ Guild remains on strike after ET actress was branded a ‘scab’ by picketers

Rosie O’Donnell has urged Drew Barrymore to stop recording her chat show after revealing how she would start airing new episodes from Monday.

In a post on Instagram, O’Donnell posted some advice from one essay written by Elizabeth Gray.

“Stop recording the show. Stop asking the public to cross the picket line. Then ask someone to help you create three declarative sentences,” the message began.

“They should take this line: I made a mistake. I apologize to the WGA for disrespecting the work of professional writers. I apologize to all union members who endure real hardship while I live a life of luxury,” O’Donnell advised via post.

Barrymore – a daughter of a proud acting dynasty – is shooting new batches of her syndicated talk show despite picketers outside her studio.

In a post on Instagram, O’Donnell posted some advice from an essay written by Elizabeth Gray. Actress Alyssa Milano agreed with O’Donnell’s sentiments

Drew Barrymore has apologized for resuming her talk show without her three unionized writers, amid the ongoing writers’ strike

The message from O’Donnell, who had her own chat show between 1996 and 2002, led to a number of other stars coming forward.

Charmed actress and activist Alyssa Milano, whose friendship with Barrymore goes back years, simply wrote, “Not complicated at all.”

‘I love her very much – I grew up with her – but I’m not sure this was the right move for the strike. I’m sure in her eyes this is the right move for her and the show, but as far as the WGA, the SAG and the union are strong, not a great move.”

Others also shared their dismay at Barrymore crossing the picket line.

‘So disappointing in her. People are literally having a hard time,” actress Karan Ashley responded.

‘Comfortable. Don’t keep punching me in the face after you apologize for punching me in the face,” comedian Alec Mapa commented.

It comes as Hollywood studios hope it can end the four-month strike with attempts to schedule a new round of talks with the WGA next week.

“I own this choice,” Barrymore wrote in an Instagram post that has since been deleted. “We are committed to not discussing or promoting film and television that has been affected in any way. We launched live into a global pandemic. Our show was built for sensitive times and has only functioned because of what the real world is going through in real time.

“I know there’s just nothing I can do that will make this okay for those it’s not okay for. I accept that completely. I just want everyone to know that my intentions have never upset or hurt again. It’s not who I am,” she said.

Barrymore’s decision to return to the air was met with resistance from others on social media.

“You have the heart and mind to be more responsive to the needs of the community than this,” one viewer wrote on Instagram.

Another was more blunt: “You can’t play a generous and relatable character when it’s financially expedient for you, and then go rogue when your wallet is in jeopardy.”

Barrymore announced the decision to bring back her daytime talk show in a lengthy Instagram post, despite previously walking out as host of the MTV Movie & TV Awards days after the strike

Barrymore explained why her daytime talk show returned in the middle of the writers’ strike. “I don’t think there’s anything I can do or say at this point to make it right,” she said

Barrymore’s stance has also been met with some confusion since she walked out in May as host of the MTV Movie & TV Awards, the first major awards show to air during the strike.

At the time, she wrote, “I listened to the writers, and to truly respect them, I will be leaving the MTV Movie & TV Awards live in solidarity with the strike.”

Since then, she has lost one more hosting gig: the National Book Awards in November. The organization has withdrawn its invitation “in light of the announcement that ‘The Drew Barrymore Show’ will resume production.”

The ongoing strike fails Writers Guild of America and the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Performers against the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, which represents Disney, Netflix, Amazon and others.

Bill Maher announced on social media on Wednesday that his HBO series Real Time with Bill Maher will return without its writing staff and faced massive backlash

Viewers today who tune in to new episodes of daytime talk shows will discover a changed landscape.

Guests aren’t always the ones looking to promote blockbuster TV shows or movies. Since the strike began, authors, musicians and comedians have been filling the gaps.

Hosts like Barrymore may find themselves in a lose-lose situation: They are contractually obligated to return to work, but are sure to anger colleagues if they do.

Last week she noted, “This is bigger than just me.”

Bill Maher, who also announced he would return to his late night talk show, framed his reasoning as a desire to help all of his staff, saying that writers “aren’t the only people with issues, problems and concerns.”