Drew Barrymore has been removed as the host of the upcoming National Book Awards ceremony, just a day after her talk show resumed filming amid the ongoing Hollywood writer's strike.
The National Book Foundation had initially announced in late July that Drew Barrymore would host the 74th National Book Awards, with Oprah Winfrey as a guest speaker, as per AP News.
Drew Barrymore's Return to Talk Show Sparks Tensions
However, her decision to restart production on her show without Writers Guild of America (WGA) writers has led to her removal from hosting duties. The National Book Awards are scheduled for November 15 in Manhattan, but the National Book Foundation still needs to name a replacement host.
Drew Barrymore has not yet publicly commented on her removal, but she may address the situation when her show returns on September 18. The decision to remove Barrymore from hosting duties came after the National Book Foundation learned of her show's resumption.
The foundation stated, "In light of the announcement that The Drew Barrymore Show will resume production, the National Book Foundation has rescinded Ms.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."
This move by Drew Barrymore to restart her show comes after she withdrew from hosting the MTV Movie & TV Awards earlier this year in solidarity with the striking writers. She stated then, "I have listened to the writers, and in order to truly respect them, I will pivot from hosting the MTV Movie & TV Awards live in solidarity with the strike."
Barrymore elaborated on her decision in an Instagram post, explaining, "I chose to walk away from the MTV, film, and television awards because I was the host and it had a direct conflict with what the strike was dealing with, which was studios, streamers, film, and television."
However, she also mentioned that her show had concluded its last season before the WGA strike began, emphasizing that she didn't have to shut down her performance at that time, Daily Mail reported.
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Drew Barrymore's Return Amid Strike Tests Union Boundaries
While her decision to return to her show doesn't technically violate strike rules set by SAG-AFTRA (Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists), her show employs at least three WGA writers who were picketing outside the CBS Broadcast Center in New York City where the show is filmed.
The Writers Guild of America East clarified the situation on Twitter, stating, "The @DrewBarrymoreTV Show is a WGA-covered, struck show that is planning to return without its writers. Any writing on The Drew Barrymore Show violates WGA strike rules."
Despite the challenges of Barrymore's return to her show, the writers outside the studio remained steadfast in their support of the strike. Chelsea White, one of the show's writers, expressed, "We are out here standing with our union and feeling great and excited always to stand with our union."
However, the situation became tense for some audience members who were removed from the show's taping when they tried to enter wearing WGA strike buttons.
One audience member, Dominic Turiczek, described the incident on Twitter, explaining that they were initially unaware of the strike's impact on the show and were later asked to leave the taping.
This turn of events has cast a spotlight on the ongoing Hollywood writer's strike and its complexities, particularly when it comes to decisions made by show hosts and networks during this challenging period for the entertainment industry, according to Metro.
