The National Book Awards has politely fired Drew Barrymore as this year’s host.
As you may have noticed if you spent any time on the internet this week, Drew Barrymore is a scab facing backlash for returning to work on The Drew Barrymore Show, despite the ongoing WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes.
Because The Drew Barrymore Show is a talk show, it is not technically in violation of the strikes, but to return, it must return without its writers.
“We are in compliance with not discussing or promoting film and television that is struck of any kind,” Barrymore wrote on Instagram. “We launched live in a global pandemic. Our show was built for sensitive times and has only functioned through what the real world is going through in real time. 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. I hope for a resolve for everyone as soon as possible.”
“The [Drew Barrymore Show] is a WGA covered, struck show that is planning to return without its writers,” WGA-East tweeted. “The Guild has, and will continue to, picket struck shows that are in production during the strike. Any writing on The Drew Barrymore Show is in violation of WGA strike rules.”
Filming has begun, and so has the picketing.
And then, in what must feel like the final, crushing blow, last night—the night before the longlists for this year’s National Book Awards start coming out, by the way; watch this space—the National Book Foundation announced that Drew Barrymore, who had been set to host the gala, had been dropped.
“The National Book Awards is an evening dedicated to celebrating the power of literature, and the incomparable contributions of writers to our culture,” the National Book Foundation 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 “In light of the announcement that The Drew Barrymore Show will resume production, the National Book Foundation has rescinded Ms.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. 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 understanding in this situation.”
Translation: “No picketers at the Book Oscars, please! It’s the only day of the year we get to dress up.” Well, fair enough.
I leave you with this meme from our friends at xoxopublishinggg:
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