Drew Barrymore to ‘Pause’ Daytime Talk Show Until the Strike Ends

Drew Barrymore announced Sunday that she will “pause” her daytime talk show until the ongoing writing strike is resolved.

“I have listened to everyone, and I am making the decision to pause the show’s premiere until the strike is over,” Barrymore said in a statement posted on Instagram Sunday. 

“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 it is today. We really tried to find our way forward. And I truly hope for a resolution for the entire industry very soon.”

Barrymore’s statement comes a week after she announced that production on the Drew Barrymore Show would return — sans writers — despite the double-strike that currently has Hollywood in a standstill.

“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. I own this choice,” she wrote September 10 in a since-deleted statement, also noting of the actors strike, “We are in compliance with not discussing or promoting film and television that is struck of any kind.”

While Barrymore isn’t a member of the Writers Guild and her Screen Actors Guild status was unaffected by her daytime gig, the resuming of her show was considered a crossing of the picket line, with tapings last week drawing a WGA picket outside the show’s New York City studio.

During the picket, Chelsea White, a co-head writer on The Drew Barrymore Show, told Rolling Stone she was disappointed with the decision. “When any production that is covered under WGA comes back during a strike it undermines our whole group effort to come to a fair contract with the AMPTP,” White said.

In an emotional video statement later in the week, Barrymore apologized to the writers and the unions for continuing her daytime show, “I believe there’s nothing I can do or say in this moment to make it OK.” She went on to reiterate her desire to “own a decision” and “take full responsibility for my actions,” before also acknowledging, “I know there is just nothing I can do that will make this OK to those that it is not OK with. I fully accept that. I fully understand that.”

However, the show continued production through the week — even as Barrymore’s peers criticized her decision — until Barrymore’s statement Sunday; while new episodes have taped, the shows apparently won’t air — if ever — until the conclusion of the strike.

From Rolling Stone US.