Drew Barrymore Defends Talk Show Return Amid Strikes in a Tearful Video

I know there's just nothing I can do that will make this okay for those it is not okay with." Drew Barrymore is explaining why she made the controversial decision to return her talk show to production amid the ongoing Writers Guild of America strike. Barrymore addressed her critics in a video statement posted to her Instagram on Friday. My intentions have never been in a place to upset or hurt anyone. It's not who I am." The actress and host went on to deny that a, quote, PR machine was behind the choice to resume the Drew Barrymore show without its WGA writers. My decision to go back to the show, I didn't want to hide behind people, so I won't." She also reiterated the previous assertion from CBS Media Ventures that the show will be returning in, quote, compliance with the WGA's strike rules. That's despite ongoing backlash from members of the union and the union itself picketing outside CBS Broadcast Center in New York as taping resumed this week. I wanted to do this because, as I said, this is bigger than me and there are other people's jobs on the line." While Barrymore said that she, quote, deeply apologizes to writers and unions, she revealed she is moving forward with the return of her show amid the strike. If we could go on during a global pandemic and everything that the world has experienced through 2020, why would this sideline us?" Her video comes one day after the WGA and AMPTP publicly stated they were scheduling a meeting next week. For much more on this story, go to THR.com. This is The Hollywood Reporter News.