Drew Barrymore has issued an Instagram video posting explaining why she has made the controversial decision to return her talk show to production amid the ongoing WGA strike.
In the video, a teary Barrymore issues a public apology to unions, writers and anyone who was left hurt by her decision.
She also repeats a previous assertion from CBS Media Ventures in their statement saying “The Drew Barrymore Show” will return to air ‘in compliance’ with the WGA’s strike rules.
Members of the union were picketing outside CBS Broadcast Center in New York as taping resumed this week, with Barrymore on the receiving end of a lot of backlash for the choice.
She says in the posting:
“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, and I take full responsibility for my actions. I know there is nothing I can do to make this okay for those that it is not okay with, I fully accept that, I fully understand that.
There are so many reasons why this is so complex, and I want everyone to know my intentions have never been in a place to upset or hurt anyone – it is not who I am. I have been through so many ups and downs in my life, and this is one of them. I deeply apologize to writers, and I deeply apologize to unions, I deeply apologize.
There’s a huge question of the why – ‘Why am I doing this?’ Well, I certainly couldn’t have expected this kind of attention, and we aren’t going to 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.”
“The Drew Barrymore Show” is one of several daytime talk shows set to resume production shortly. It, like several others, employs WGA writers but not as many as late-night shows or scripted series.
Update: Barymore’s video posting is no longer available on Instagram.
Source: THR
