Drew Barrymore 'deeply apologises' to unions ahead of show return

Shutterstock

Actor Drew Barrymore issued a video apology to striking Hollywood writers on Friday but said she would go forward with plans to resume her talk show next week.

Barrymore has been subject to protests by members of the Writers Guild of America (WGA), who argue that she is violating terms of their work stoppage by filming new episodes of "The Drew Barrymore Show." The first is scheduled to air on Monday.

In a video posted on Instagram, Barrymore's voice quivered as she addressed the backlash.

"I deeply apologise to the writers. I deeply apologise to unions," she said.

Barrymore said she decided to go forward partly because "other people's jobs are on the line." Thousands of crew members have been out of work since the WGA strike began in May and shut down production. More filming stopped when members of the SAG-AFTRA actors union walked off the job in July.

In addition, Barrymore said she "wanted to make a show that was there for people in sensitive times."

Barrymore repeated that she believes her show will comply with strike restrictions.

"There's nothing I can do to make this OK to those this is not OK with," she added. "I fully accept that."

Other talk shows also are planning to return to TV shortly. "Real Time" host Bill Maher said he was bringing back his HBO show without written pieces such as a monologue and will focus on debates with guests.

The WGA said it was "difficult to imagine" how Maher, a WGA member, could host the show and still comply with strike rules. The union said members would picket the filming of "Real Time."

More from Entertainment News

  • Striking Hollywood actors resume contract talks with studios, networks

    Negotiators for striking Hollywood actors resumed contract talks on Monday with representatives of major studios, television networks and streaming services, marking the first time the two sides have returned to the bargaining table since mid-July.

  • Taylor Swift again watches Chiefs, Kelce amid romance rumours

    Pop megastar Taylor Swift was just a spectator on Sunday at New Jersey's MetLife Stadium, but she was still the star of the show as she watched her rumoured beau, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, face the New York Jets.

  • Beyonce's concert film to be distributed globally by AMC

    A film based on American pop star Beyonce's hit "Renaissance World Tour" is set to be distributed globally by a unit of AMC Entertainment, the company said, as cinema chains look to fill content gaps stemming from Hollywood strikes.

  • Suspect charged with Tupac murder

    An admitted former street gang leader was arrested on Friday on a charge of murder in the Las Vegas shooting of hip-hop star Tupac Shakur nearly three decades ago, a long-unsolved crime that became a defining moment in the history of rap music.

  • NSYNC drop first new song together in 20 years

    NSYNC, one of the most successful acts of the late 1990s, released their first new music together in 20 years on Friday, a song featuring in animated movie "Trolls Band Together".