Drew Barrymore to ‘pause’ talk show following backlash amid strikes: ‘My deepest apologies’

The actress and talk show host has issued a stunning reversal of her decision to continue filming during the Hollywood strikes amid heavy backlash.

Drew Barrymore is pressing “pause” on the Season 4 premiere of her talk show after receiving massive backlash for resuming filming amid the ongoing actors’ and writers’ strikes in Hollywood.

”I have listened to everyone, and I am making the decision to pause the show’s premiere until the strike is over,” the host of The Drew Barrymore Show wrote via Instagram on Sunday, according to Page Six.

“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 is today.”

Barrymore, 48, added that she “really tried” to “find a way forward” with production as the film industry enters its fourth month of being on strike. SAG-AFTRA joined the Writers Guild of America on the picket line on July 14.

“I truly hope for a resolution for the entire industry very soon,” she concluded.

Barrymore has backtracked on her decision to go ahead with filming amid the strikes. Picture: Angela Weiss/AFP

In a statement provided to Page Six, CBS Media Ventures also stood behind Barrymore’s decision, stating, “We support Drew’s decision to pause the show’s return and understand how complex and difficult this process has been for her.”

Writers and actors staged a solidarity march through Hollywood to Paramount Studios on September 13 as part of the ongoing strike. Picture: Frederic J. Brown/AFP

The update comes a week after Barrymore announced she was planning to pick up taping for the next season of her show, which was originally slated to air Monday.

Taking to Instagram to stand by her decision at the time, Barrymore wrote in a since-deleted post, “I own this choice … we are in compliance with not discussing or promoting film and television that is struck of any kind.”

Soon after, the Charlie’s Angels star began to receive backlash from fans, stars and foundations alike for her decision.

As previously reported, Barrymore was dropped as the National Book Awards host for The National Book Foundation’s upcoming event a day after she began taping her first episode. She also received heat from fellow actor Rosie O’Donnell on Saturday, who demanded that Barrymore “stop taping” her show.

“Stop asking audiences to cross the picket line,” O’Donnell shared in a screenshot via Instagram, quoting an essay written by author Elizabeth Grey.

This article originally appeared in Page Six and was reproduced with permission.