Drew Barrymore announced Sunday she is going to “pause” the Season 4 premiere of her talk show, set for Monday, following backlash she received for taping throughout the Writers Guild of America strike.
“I even have listened to everyone, and I’m making the choice to pause the show’s premiere until the strike is over,” wrote Barrymore, 48, on Instagram.
“I haven’t any words to specific my deepest apologies to anyone I even have hurt and, after all, to our incredible team who works on the show and has made it what it’s today. We actually tried to seek out our way forward.”
The “50 First Dates” actress added that she truly hopes “for a resolution for the whole industry very soon.”
Barrymore released the statement after every 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 every week ago to announce that Season 4 would premiere Sept. 18.
“I’m … making the selection to return back for the primary time on this strike for our show, that will have my name on it but this is greater than simply me,” she wrote on Sept. 10. “I own this selection.”
Her message continued, “We’re in compliance with not discussing or promoting film and tv that’s struck of any kind. We launched live in a world pandemic. Our show was built for sensitive times and has only functioned through what the true world goes through in real time.”
A CBS Media Ventures spokesperson told The Post on the time that, “The Drew Barrymore Show won’t 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 higher pay from streaming services. The SAG-AFTRA strike began in July.
In line with strike guidelines, union members are prohibited from participating in interviews for accomplished 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 peak of the coronavirus pandemic.
“I actually couldn’t have expected this type of attention,” Barrymore said in a now-deleted Instagram video. “We aren’t gonna break rules, and we will probably be in compliance. I wanted to do that because as I said, this is greater than me, and there are other people’s jobs on the road.”
She vehemently denied that a “PR machine” was behind the choice.
“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 simply accept responsibility, and no, I don’t have a PR machine behind this. My decision to return to the show — I didn’t need to hide behind people,” continued Barrymore.
“I won’t polish this with bells and whistles and publicists and company rhetoric. I’ll just stand on the market and accept and be responsible.”
Latest 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.
