Three ‘Drew Barrymore Show’ Writers Quit After Show Attempted Return During WGA Strike

Three writers from The Drew Barrymore Show will not be returning despite the end of the WGA strike.

The show is set to return on October 16 after delays caused by the strike.

Writers Chelsea White, Cristina Kinon and Liz Koe quit their jobs rather than return.

The show is now interviewing new writers to take their place. The hiring process will follow WGA guidelines.

Drew Barrymore faced criticism last month for her decision to continue her daytime talk show in the midst of the writer’s strike, the backlash ultimately led the show to go back on hiatus on September 17. She faced several repercussions for her decision, including being dropped from the National Book Awards. 

White, Kinon and Koe were outspoken against the show’s initial September return. The three have been working with Barrymore since the program’s beginning.

They found out the show was returning from audience ticket giveaways. “It is a bummer to hear that the show is going back because it sends a message that union writers are not valuable,” White said.

Barrymore’s decision to resume the show was not against SAG-AFTRA rules, as talk shows are under a separate contract. 

In response to the controversy, Barrymore reversed 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,” she wrote.

Barrymore has recently had to deal with a stalker who was arrested looking for her Long Island, New York, home.