Drew Barrymore, famous for Charlie’s Angels (2000) and 50 First Dates (2004) took to Instagram on September 10 to share the news with her fans that she had decided to make a comeback with her talk show – The Drew Barrymore Show amid the writers’ strike.
On August 9, according to multiple media publications’ updated timeline, the strike had officially crossed 100 days without reaching a suitable agreement with the AMPTP (Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers.)
Barrymore has since been receiving flak from fellow actors and media personalities who found her decision to be hasty and irresponsible. Variety mentioned in their September 11 report that the actress would either be employing writers who cross a picket line or no writers at all.
In her Instagram post, she mentioned that she walked away from film and television award shows that she hosted as they affected the WGA’s motives. But, as she chose to come back, actor Joshua Malina (The West Wing) called her a ‘Scab.’
Drew Barrymore Gets ‘Scab’ Title For Talk Show Comeback
The American actors’ union – SAG-AFTRA also joined the WGA strike on July 14, as per Variety. One would think that she is crossing the picket line by working as a performer, but Variety mentioned that her work is “not a violation of current strike” as the show is “covered by a different SAG-AFTRA contract.”
The update of her comeback, however, led to famous personalities, like Joshua Malina calling her a ‘SCAB’ on X (formerly Twitter.) A Scab, in the entertainment industry, is someone who decides to work amid an ongoing strike.
Take a look –
— (((Jew))) (@JoshMalina) September 11, 2023
Not just that, another The West Wing star, Bradley Whitford wasn’t too enthusiastic about her decision either and Tweeted, “Oh, you own it. For sure, @DrewBarrymore. And we’ll never forget it.”
TV Personality Wonders Who Wrote Her Opening Monologue
Variety mentioned a spokesperson of the distributing network, CBS, who told them that the show wouldn’t include any WGA-covered writing work. Felicia Day, who works in the industry as a writer and an actor, has questioned Drew Barrymore’s show on the writing front.
She posted on her X account –
“So who is writing her opening monologue and literally everything else on this show when it starts up again next week? Scab writers?! Ugh, gross Drew Barrymore. Gross.”
Sooo who is writing her opening monologue and literally everything else on this show when it starts up again next week? Scab writers?! Ughhhh gross Drew Barrymore. Gross. https://t.co/Li1hthpUm7
— Felicia Day🇺🇸 (@feliciaday) September 11, 2023
As it turns out, The Drew Barrymore Show had employed writers who are currently out on strike. Deciding to go on air without the writers, Barrymore could be writing the script herself or with the help of non-WGA writers.
The Drew Barrymore Show can be streamed on Paramount+.
Source: Variety
