Drew Barrymore
| Photo Credit: Evan Agostini
The National Book Awards dropped Drew Barrymore because the host for this 12 months’s ceremony on Tuesday, a day after her speak present taped its first episode for the reason that Hollywood writers strike started.
“The National Book Awards is an evening dedicated to celebrating the power of literature, and the incomparable contributions of writers to our culture,” the organization said in a statement. “In light of the announcement that ‘The Drew Barrymore Show’ will resume production, the National Book Foundation has rescinded Ms. Barrymore’s invitation to host the 74th National Book Awards Ceremony.”
The resumption of the CBS speak present would not inherently trigger points with the actors guild, which can also be on strike, as daytime speak exhibits are ruled by a unique Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Radio and Television Artists contract that was renewed and ratified final 12 months. But Barrymore’s present employs at the least three writers who’re members of the writers guild, which has been on strike since early May. Those writers have been picketing exterior the CBS Broadcast Building on Monday.
“The only people I know for sure that are not going back are us three WGA writers. And the rest, I can’t really speak for,” Chelsea White, one of many present’s writers, mentioned on the picket line. “I think first and foremost, this is obviously way bigger than just ‘The Drew Barrymore Show’ and writers. We are out here standing with our union and feeling great and excited always to stand with our union.”
Barrymore drew criticism from members of both guilds for crossing the picket line. The fourth season of the talk show is slated to start airing Sept. 18. A representative for Barrymore did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
In an Instagram post on Sunday, Barrymore said she was “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.”
“I own this choice,” she added, persevering with that they might adjust to the strikes by not discussing or selling struck work.
She additionally talked about writers in her publish.
“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 wrote.
At the outset of the writers strike, Barrymore had dropped out as host of the MTV Movie & TV Awards out of solidarity with these on strike (she later received greatest host on the occasion, which ditched the reside factor for a clip-heavy pre-taped present). Elsewhere within the literary world, Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos pulled out of May’s PEN America Gala, the place he was to obtain a Business Visionary Award, saying he did not need to distract from “the important work that PEN America does for writers and journalists” (Netflix is among the many studios and streamers on the opposite aspect of the desk from the hanging staff).
When Barrymore was introduced as host of this 12 months’s National Book Awards, scheduled for Nov. 15, the chair of the National Book Foundation’s board of administrators lauded her work championing books.
“Throughout their careers, Drew Barrymore and Oprah Winfrey have each demonstrated their enduring belief that books have the power to change readers’ lives — by opening doors, sparking conversations, and building community,” David Steinberger mentioned in an announcement, additionally referencing the ceremony’s visitor speaker, Winfrey.
On Tuesday, the inspiration sought to place the highlight again on the writers.
“Our commitment is to ensure that the focus of the Awards remains on celebrating writers and books, and we are grateful to Ms. Barrymore and her team for their understanding in this situation,” the assertion mentioned.
Source: www.thehindu.com
