'I have no words to express my deepest apologies.' What's happening with The Drew Barrymore Show.

Drew Barrymore has paused the planned premiere of her US talk show until after the Hollywood strikes are over.

For more than a week, Barrymore had been facing immense backlash after returning to work on The Drew Barrymore Show, during the ongoing writers' and actors' strike. 

Her daytime talk show reconvened filming for its fourth season earlier this month, after wrapping up production earlier in May, and was due to premiere on Monday.

Barrymore has now backtracked on that.

Watch this video on growing up with Drew Barrymore. Post continues after video. 

"I have listened to everyone and I am making the decision to pause the show's premiere until the strike is over," she wrote 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. And I truly hope for a resolution for the entire industry very soon."

She had previously published a since-deleted tearful video where she apologised to writers and unions.

"I believe there is nothing I can do or say in this moment to make it okay. I wanted to own a decision so it wasn't a PR-protected situation," she said.

"I want everyone to know my intentions have never been in a place to upset or hurt anyone - it is not who I am."

In early September, Barrymore and her network CBS announced that The Drew Barrymore Show would be returning to air on September 18, with her saying the show was "bigger than just me".

The season would be produced without WGA writers there to help produce the opening monologues, interview questions, and jokes.

"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," she wrote on Monday. 

"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.""I want to be there to provide what writers do so well, which is a way to bring us together or help us make sense of the human experience," she continued. 

"I hope for a resolve for everyone as soon as possible. We have navigated difficult times since we first came on air. And so I take a step forward to start season 4 once again with an astute humility."

Image: Getty.

Barrymore insisted in her IG post that coming back to air was totally "in compliance with not discussing or promoting film and television that is struck of any kind," as per SAG-AFTRA strike rules. 

Additionally, a spokesperson for CBS told EW, "The Drew Barrymore Show will not be performing any writing work covered by the WGA strike."

WGA-East shared their own message on social media, writing: "The [Drew Barrymore Show] is a WGA-covered, struck show that is planning to return without its writers. The Guild has, and will continue to, picket struck shows that are in production during the strike. Any writing on 'The Drew Barrymore Show' is in violation of WGA strike rules."

The @DrewBarrymoreTV Show is a WGA covered, struck show that is planning to return without its writers. The Guild has, and will continue to, picket struck shows that are in production during the strike. Any writing on “The Drew Barrymore Show” is in violation of WGA strike rules.

— Writers Guild of America, East (@WGAEast) September 10, 2023

When the show returned to filming in mid-September, picketers assembled outside the studio where the show is filmed in New York. 

A pair of audience members who were supposed to attend a taping were allegedly asked to leave when a show staffer saw them wearing WGA pins, handed to them by picketers outside of the studio.

"[We] got kicked out and verbally assaulted by Drew Barrymore's crew," Dominic Turiczek shared on X (formerly Twitter).

Went to @DrewBarrymoreTV after winning tickets, unaware of the #WGA strike. We took pins & went in, got kicked out, & verbally assaulted by @DrewBarrymore’s crew. It’s clear they don’t support #WGAStrong, writers or fans! #DrewTheRightThing So we took shirts and joined. Fuck that pic.twitter.com/UuyCxAS491

— Dominic Turiczek (@dom_turiczek) September 11, 2023

Feature Image: Getty/Mamamia/CBS.

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