Drew Barrymore announced Sunday she will “pause” the Season 4 premiere of her talk show, set for Monday, following backlash she received for taping during the Writers Guild of America strike.
“I have listened to everyone, and I am making the decision to pause the show’s premiere until the strike is over,” wrote Barrymore, 48, on Instagram.
“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.”
The “50 First Dates” actress added that she truly hopes “for a resolution for the entire industry very soon.”
Barrymore released the statement after a week of online backlash, protests outside the CBS Broadcast Center in Midtown, and the retraction of her invitation to host the upcoming National Book Awards ceremony.
The Post contacted reps for Barrymore and the Writers Guild for comment.
“We support Drew’s decision to pause the show’s return and understand how complex and difficult this process has been for her,” a spokesperson for CBS Media Ventures, which produces and distributes “The Drew Barrymore Show,” told The Post on Sunday.
The “Blended” actress took to Instagram a week ago to announce that Season 4 would premiere Sept. 18.
“I am … 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,” she wrote on Sept. 10. “I own this choice.”
Her message continued, “We are in compliance with not discussing or promoting film and television that is struck of any kind. We launched live in a global pandemic. Our show was built for sensitive times and has only functioned through what the real world is going through in real time.”
A CBS Media Ventures spokesperson told The Post at the time that, “The Drew Barrymore Show will not be performing any writing work covered by the WGA strike.”
WGA members picketed tapings in response.
Since May 2, Hollywood writers have been striking for higher wages, regulation surrounding artificial intelligence, and better pay from streaming services. The SAG-AFTRA strike began in July.
According to strike guidelines, union members are prohibited from participating in interviews for completed work and making personal appearances.
Last week, the “Charlie’s Angels” star defended her controversial decision to tape her show — which debuted in September 2020 at the height of the coronavirus pandemic.
“I certainly couldn’t have expected this kind of attention,” Barrymore said in a now-deleted Instagram video. “We aren’t gonna 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.”
She vehemently denied that a “PR machine” was behind the decision.
“I don’t exactly know what to say because sometimes when things are so tough, it’s hard to make decisions from that place. So all I can say is that I wanted to accept responsibility, and no, I don’t have a PR machine behind this. My decision to go back to the show — I didn’t want to hide behind people,” continued Barrymore.
“I won’t polish this with bells and whistles and publicists and corporate rhetoric. I’ll just stand out there and accept and be responsible.”
New seasons of “The View,” “Tamron Hall,” and “Live with Kelly and Mark” also premiered this month.
Bill Maher’s “Real Time” will come back as well.
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