Audience Ejection Sparks Controversy Amid Drew Barrymore Show, Writers Guild Strike Support, and Show Resumes Filming Amidst Growing Industry Dispute

Drew Barrymore Show Backlash Amid Writers Guild Strike

^{Credit: Google | Drew Barrymore | Writers Strike}

Amid the ongoing Writers Guild of America (WGA) strike that has sent shockwaves through the entertainment industry, The Drew Barrymore Show found itself embroiled in controversy as two audience members were unceremoniously ejected during a recent taping. This incident highlights the increasing tensions surrounding the strikes by writers and actors within the entertainment sector.

BREAKING: Two audience members of the Drew Barrymore show were kicked out for wearing "Writers Guild on Strike" pins.

The pair was handed pins by striking writers picketing directly outside the show.

And they were asked to leave before the show began.https://t.co/EfIUydi5C4
— More Perfect Union (@MorePerfectUS) September 11, 2023

Dominic Turiczek and Cassidy Carter, unaware of the strike when they secured tickets for the show, were handed WGA pins by picketers as they entered CBS Studios in New York. Little did they know that wearing these pins would lead to their expulsion from the show. Turiczek, still sporting his button, was singled out by a crewmember and asked to leave, leaving both audience members shocked and disheartened.

This unexpected turn of events quickly gained attention, with Turiczek and Carter choosing to join the picket lines outside the studio in a show of solidarity with the striking writers. The Drew Barrymore Show’s spokesperson expressed “regret” over the incident, citing heightened security concerns as the reason for the audience members’ removal. Drew Barrymore herself claimed ignorance of the incident and announced her decision to continue filming without WGA writers, citing compliance with SAG-AFTRA rules.

Despite the controversy, the show proceeded with its previously scheduled episode, featuring Brooke Shields and Jordan Fisher. The three co-head writers of The Drew Barrymore Show, who were present on the picket line, voiced their disappointment at the show’s decision to resume production, highlighting the broader issue of the industry’s treatment of union writers.

This incident raises critical questions about the future of the show and the fate of the WGA writers. While Drew Barrymore’s intentions may have been well-placed, her decision has sparked a wider conversation regarding fair contracts and support for the striking writers within the entertainment realm.

In a related context, Drew Barrymore clarified her stance on the strike, explaining her choice to withdraw from hosting the MTV Film and Television Awards in solidarity with the writers. She emphasized that her show’s third season had concluded production prior to the official commencement of the WGA strike.

The WGA strike, representing more than a thousand writers across various media, seeks improved compensation, higher residuals, and the establishment of limits on artificial intelligence use in the film and television industry. The strike has triggered a chain reaction, with the Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) also launching their own strikes after unsuccessful Talks with Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP)”.

The controversy surrounding The Drew Barrymore Show serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing labor disputes within the entertainment industry, underscoring the urgent need for equitable resolutions and support for all industry stakeholders.