Writers picket recording of Drew Barrymore talk show amidst WAG/SAG strike

Film And TV
13 Sep 23

Source: Getty

The American actress has received backlash following decision to continue her talk show despite current strike conditions

Striking writers have protested the filming of Drew Barrymore's talk show, after the 48-year old actress announced its return despite the current SAG-AFTRA Writers Strike. Members of the Writers Guild were joined by writers for Barrymore's show in a recent demonstration outside CBS studios.

The Writers Guild have been on strike since early May of this year, disputing inadequate working conditions, wages, and the controversial implementation of artificial intelligence within the entertainment industry. In May, Barrymore stepped down as host of the MTV Film and TV Awards, in solidarity with the striking WGA members.

"It had a direct conflict with what the strike was dealing with which was studios, streamers, film, and television," she wrote in a recent Instagram post.

"It was also in the first week of the strike and so I did what I thought was the appropriate thing at the time to stand in solidarity with the writers."

Barrymore, who rose to fame after her breakout role in E.T, has hosted her own talk show since 2020. In the statement issued by the actress earlier this week, the actress and TV host announced her intentions to continue with the fourth season of her talk show, stating that the show would comply with strike rules and promising that the programme would not "discuss or promote film and television that is struck of any kind" when it returned. She continued, "I am also making the choice to come back for the first time in this strike for our show, that may have my name on it but this is bigger than just me."

Speaking to Vanity fair, WGA spokesman Jason gordon stated, "The Drew Barrymore Show is a WGA-covered struck television show. It has stayed off the air since the strike began on May 2nd, but has now (unfortunately) decided to return without its writers."

Despite recent backlash however, the CBS production and Barrymore's involvement as a performer is technically not a breach of the current rules of the strike. The forthcoming CBS show is covered by a different SAG-AFTRA contract than the one currently in dispute, which covers talk shows, game shows, variety shows and soaps, having been approved and ratified by union members last year.

In her post, Barrymore highlighted her intentions in bringing writers together, and her hopes to "provide what writers do so well, which is a way to bring us together or help us make sense of the human experience." Writer David Guggenheim retorted, However, commenting on her post: "You are definitely going to be bringing us writers together... when we picket your show tomorrow."