In case you didn’t know, the SAG-AFTRA (Screen Actors Guild) and WGA (Writers Guild of America) have been on strike since July. All production in the film and television industry is halted due to the strike. Members of the unions have joined the picket lines across the country, shouting their concerns to big studios; but with the strike lasting as long as it has there have been some outliers or ‘scabs.’
A scab is a worker who crosses the picket line in violation of a planned work stoppage or strike. One celebrity who has been labeled as a scab during this Hollywood strike is Drew Barrymore. Barrymore announced earlier last week that the “Drew Barrymore Show” would be back in production during the Hollywood strike but would be ‘in compliance’ with strike rules. Barrymore was labeled as a scab and received a ton of backlash. The show reportedly was going to use a ‘fully ad-libbed’ format and would not replace any of the striking writers.
Soon after, Barrymore posted an emotional video on Instagram, stating her reasonings for launching the talk show and not backing down from the criticism. She mentioned there are another 150 people’s jobs on the line. Union members, strikers, and the public didn’t seem to care. Barrymore received a ‘Game of Thrones’ style backlash.
The video has since been taken down and replaced with a statement from Barrymore changing her decision. “I have listened to everyone, and I am making the decision to pause the show’s premiere until the strike is over. 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,” said Barrymore.
What This Means
Barrymore wasn’t the only talk show host to get criticism for their decisions amidst the strike. Bill Maher, host of “Real Time,” decided to make the same move as Barrymore and received backlash. The HBO program was set to return but quickly decided to reverse the decision. Maher stated:
“My decision to return to work was made when it seemed nothing was happening and there was no end in sight to this strike. Now that both sides have agreed to go back to the negotiating table, I’m going to delay the return of “Real Time,” for now, and hope they can finally get this done” via X, the app formerly known as Twitter. Other shows that have delayed their premiere include the daytime talk show “The Talk” and “The Jennifer Hudson Show.”
According to Vox, the AMPTP (Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers) and WGA plan on resuming discussions on a new deal this week. The AMPTP is the entertainment industry’s official collective bargaining representative. A few members include Warner Bros. Discovery, Netflix, Disney, Paramount, Sony, Amazon, Apple, and NBCUniversal. If the WGA does reach an agreement, it would likely mean the SAG-AFTRA would be right behind, ending the strike. The world can only hope this strike gets resolved soon because until then the film industry will be put on standby with no new original content insight.
