MEAWW.COM / NEWS / CELEBRITY NEWS

'I'll be watching from home': Drew Barrymore refuses to host MTV Movie and TV Awards in 'solidarity' with WGA strike

Drew Barrymore says she will not host MTV Movie and TV Awards to 'truly respect' WGA writers

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Drew Barrymore is the latest celebrity to support the Writers Guild of America strike that started on Monday, May 2. The star pulled out of hosting the MTV Movie and TV Awards that are scheduled to take place on Sunday, May 7.

The ‘Blended’ actress issued a statement explaining her decision. “I have listened to the writers, and in order to truly respect them, I will pivot from hosting the MTV Movie and TV Awards live in solidarity with the strike.” 

READ MORE

Seth Meyers and Jimmy Fallon step up to support NBC staffers with partial wage payments during writers' strike

‘Love this solidarity’: Jay Leno praised for bringing donuts to WGA strike as Jimmy Fallon gets slammed for Met Gala appearance

‘50 First Dates’ star went on to say, “Everything we celebrate and honor about movies and television is born out of their creation. And until a solution is reached, I am choosing to wait but I’ll be watching from home and hope you will join me. I thank MTV, who has truly been some of the best partners I have ever worked with. And I can’t wait to be a part of this next year when I can truly celebrate everything that MTV has created, which is a show that allows fans to choose who the awards go to and is truly inclusive,” reports Deadline.

‘We understand and deeply respect her decision’

Bruce Gillmer, the president of music, music talent, programming, and events at Paramount Global, said in a statement, “We understand and deeply respect her decision,” before adding, “We thank and recognize all the writers who worked hard on the show these last few months.”

Gillmer continued, “The show may not look and feel the same as the one we originally planned, but the team is hard at work readying to put on another great show, giving fans a chance to celebrate all the film and TV this year,” before adding, “Our team is the best in the business – pivoting for several years whether scaled-back during Covid, without fans (ie GOATS), and have been able to bring our shows to fans every single year. This year is no different.”

Barrymore is, however, expected to return next year to host the MTV Movie & TV Awards 2024. The award show is also the first award show to be taking place after the writers’ strike started. 

What is the Writers Guild of America strike about?

Members of the Writers Guild of America (WGA) labor union of screenwriters voted on April 18, 2023, to start a strike if they could not reach a satisfactory agreement with the representative of Hollywood’s major film and television studios, Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) by May 1. Even after discussions with the major studios, since a unanimous negotiation could not be reached, the WGA of both East and West decided to strike from May 2. The WGA has also set some rules for the writers as "writers cannot do any writing, revising, pitching or discussing future projects with companies that are members of the AMPTP," according to The Hollywood Reporter. Any writer not complying with the guidelines will be subjected to punishment including fines and banishment from the guild. 

'Mother is mothering FR'

As soon as Drew Barrymore shared her statement the internet decided to offer their two cents about her decision. "So all of those commercials with her for nothing," remarked one fan. Another Twitter user commented, "She said what she said mother is mothering FR." A fan quipped, "Just when we thought she had peaked in mothering she mothered again to end capitalism we stan."

However, a confused fan asked, "Is she standing with the striking writers or does she not have content to work with since the writers are on strike." A user said, "She’s literally just doing that because she has no one to write her script for her." Another remembered a past incident and said, "Yet she didn't stand in solidarity with a domestic violence and rape victim and mocked her on live television instead..."

A fan commented, "This is why I get so happy when the right people have their own shows and make solid money on their own. So many actors and people can afford a strike but would never and writers virtually have no choice and CANT afford it. We stan."

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.