The Drew Barrymore Show writers are DECLINING to return for new season after host caught backlash for filming series during WGA strikes – and fans jibed: ‘She could have just waited a week’
- Co-head writers Chelsea White, Cristina Kinon and Liz Koe have all rejected job offers to return for the show’s fourth season
- All three had been with the series during its entire run
- They had been ‘visible and vocal’ when Barrymore initially decided to cross the picket line in her return to the air
Three of The Drew Barrymore Show’s writers say they will not be returning to the talk show after the host initially planned to bring the show back during the then-ongoing WGA strike.
Chelsea White, Cristina Kinon and Liz Koe have all rejected job offers for the show’s fourth season, sources told The Hollywood Reporter Wednesday.
Insiders told THR that White, Kinon and Koe – who were all co-head writers – had been with the series during its entire run.
They had been ‘visible and vocal’ when Barrymore initially decided to cross the picket line in her return to the air, before the fallout led her to shelf the show until the strike concluded.
The show is currently in the interview process with writers to replace the departed trio and will be in lockstep with WGA rules in the dealings, insiders told THR.
The latest: Three of The Drew Barrymore Show’s writers say they will not be returning to the talk show after the host initially planned to bring the show back during then-ongoing WGA strike, as the eponymous talk show has set a return date following its strike controversy
Strike line: WGA members had been seen picketing outside of Barrymore’s New York studios on September 12, after Barrymore made moves to resume the talk show amid the strike
The trio of writers had picketed outside of the New York studios had held up signs reading statements such as ‘Drew’s News: Strikes’ and ‘Honk if you [love] union labor,’ the outlet reported.
The three writers were also put off by the lack of communication throughout the process, as they had found out Barrymore was returning to the air via social media advertisements for tickets to the show.
White told THR on September 11 that it was ‘a bummer to hear that the show is going back because it sends a message that union writers are not valuable.’
White had ‘no comment’ at the time when asked if she would return to her post on the show at the conclusion of the strike.
Kinon told the outlet, ‘I understand that everybody has to do what they feel is best for them. For me and the WGA writers on the show, it’s important for us to stick with our union. We deserve a fair contract, so we are here today outside.’
The staffing shake-up comes as Barrymore’s eponymous talk show has set a return date following its writers’ strike controversy.
The forthcoming season four premiere date was announced on Wednesday via the TV program’s official social media accounts.
Along with a cheery photo of the 48-year-old host — who issued a tearful apology amid backlash last month — a caption read, ‘This just in: We’re kicking off our brand new season on Monday, October 16th!’
Update: The forthcoming season four premiere date was announced on Wednesday via the TV program’s official social media accounts; Drew pictured in an apology video shared online last month after she was criticized for planning to continue the show amid the WGA strike
It comes shortly after the months-long Writers Guild of America strike was resolved with a new three-year contract.
Barrymore was met with pushback after initially planning to bring the show back on September 18, despite the then-ongoing strike.
In deciding to bring her show back at the time, Barrymore was not in technical violation of WGA or SAG-AFTRA rules, the outlet reported.
‘The Drew Barrymore Show is produced under the Network Television Code which is a separate contract and is not struck,’ a SAG-AFTRA rep told the outlet. ‘It is permissible work and Drew’s role as host does not violate the current strike rules.’
The revised return comes after fans took to X, formerly Twitter, to rip on the actress after the new writers’ deal was reached, with one person writing, ‘She could have just waited a week or two.’
Another person shared a similar sentiment with a post that read: ‘Lmao if only Drew Barrymore waited a week, she could’ve avoided that social media attack now that WGA has [stopped] striking.’
Someone else shared a video of a woman banging her head on a table and joked, ‘Drew Barrymore realising she could’ve just waited a week for the strike to end.’
And yet another fan shared a crying emoji and wrote, ‘I bet Drew Barrymore wishes she waited like a week or so to make that announcement.’
Reaction: As news of the show’s return spread online, fans took to X, formerly Twitter, to rip on the actress, with one person writing, ‘She could have just waited a week or two’
Similar sentiment: Another person shared a post that read, ‘Lmao if only Drew Barrymore waited a week, she could’ve avoided that social media attack now that WGA has [stopped] striking’
Humorous: Someone else shared a video of a woman banging her head on a table and joked, ‘Drew Barrymore realising she could’ve just waited a week for the strike to end’
Funny: A fan shared a crying emoji and wrote, ‘I bet Drew Barrymore wishes she waited like a week or so to make that announcement’
Last month Barrymore was called out for her lack of solidarity with the WGA, prompting her to post — and later delete — a video asking for fans’ forgiveness.
Announcing that she was going back on her decision after the backlash, she wrote on Instagram: ‘I have listened to everyone, and I am making the decision to pause the show’s premiere until the strike is over.
‘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 soon.’
The backpedaling came after she said in the aforementioned video: ‘I wanted to own a decision, so that it wasn’t a PR-protected situation, and I would just take full responsibility for my actions.’
‘I believe there’s nothing I can do or say in this moment to make it OK,’ she said through tears.
‘I fully accept that. I fully understand that. There are so many reasons why this is so complex, and I just want everyone to know my intentions have never been in a place to upset or hurt anymore.
‘It’s not who I am. I’ve been through so many ups and downs in my life, and this is one of them. I deeply apologize to writers. I deeply apologize to unions.’
Apology statement: Last month Barrymore decided to pause the show’s September premiere
She added: ‘There’s a huge question of the why — why am I doing this?
‘Well, I certainly couldn’t have expected this kind of attention, and we aren’t going to break rules and we will be in compliance. I wanted to do this, because as I said, this is bigger than me and there are other people’s jobs on the line.’
The writers were allowed to return to work late last month after the WGA reached an agreement on a three-year contract with an alliance of the industry’s biggest studios, streaming services and production companies.
Union leaders praised the deal as a win on issues including pay, size of staffs and the use of artificial intelligence, nothing that the months of picketing were worth it.
Following suit in July, actors began striking in July over many of the same issues as writers.
SAG-AFTRA leaders have said they would look closely at the gains and compromises of the WGA’s deal, but noted that their demands would remain the same as they were when the strike began.
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