Entertainment

Drew Barrymore says she will not resume talk show amid strikes after backlash

Chloe Melas
WATCH LIVE
US actress Drew Barrymore arrives for the Time 100 Gala, celebrating the 100 most influential people in the world, at Lincoln Center's Frederick P. Rose Hall in New York City on April 26, 2023. (Photo by ANGELA WEISS / AFP) (Photo by ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images)
Angela Weiss | Afp | Getty Images

Drew Barrymore's talk show will not return amid the Hollywood strikes.

The actress announced on Sunday via her Instagram account that after blowback from her decision to resume production, she's decided to press "pause."

"I have listened to everyone, and I am making the decision to pause the show's premiere until the strike is over," Barrymore wrote." 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 is today."

She went on to add, "We really tried to find our way forward. And I truly hope for a resolution for the entire industry very soon."

Read more from NBC News:

The news comes one week after Barrymore announced she would be bringing back "The Drew Barrymore Show" even though she walked away from hosting the MTV Movie & TV Awards just days into the strike.

Barrymore received criticism from fellow actors and the Writers Guild of America [WGA], a guild representing 11,000 writers in television, movies and other creative media, that has been on strike since May, demanding higher wages as well as clearer provisions in their contracts around artificial intelligence. 

The National Book Foundation also rescinded its invitation for Barrymore to host its annual book awards following her decision.

When Barrymore announced that she would be bringing her show back, she wrote on Instagram, "I own this choice ... we are in compliance with not discussing or promoting film and television that is struck of any kind."

A SAG-AFTRA spokesperson told NBC that the talk show's return did not violate the ongoing strike.

SAG-AFTRA, a guild representing more than 160,000 actors and others in the entertainment industry, also went on strike in July

As a result of the dual strikes, most TV shows, including talk shows such as "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon" and "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert," which rely on teams of writers, have been dark for months.

Just two days ago, Barrymore posted a since deleted video of herself tearfully explaining why she was bringing the show back. In the comments section actress Debra Messing had written, "I hope you will reconsider."