Drew Barrymore breaks down in tears as she issues ‘deep apology’, Debra Messing fires back

Drew Barrymore has issued a public apology to unions, writers and anyone who was left hurt by her decision to resume filming on The Drew Barrymore Show during the ongoing strike. 

Sharing a video on Instagram, Drew did not caption the post but left comments open for followers to share their thoughts; and Will & Grace star Debra Messing was among those to ask Drew to reconsider.

“You can choose now to halt production. You can choose to pay your employees like other talk show hosts who have stood in solidarity with the writers. There are thousands of union members jobs and livelihoods that are at stake (exponential more than those who work on your show) and the future of our beloved industry. I hope you will reconsider,” wrote Debra.

In the video, Drew began: “I believe there is nothing I can do or say in this moment to make it okay,” she began. “I wanted to own a decision so it wasn’t a PR-protected situation, and I take full responsibility for my actions. I know there is nothing I can do to make this okay for those that it is not okay with, I fully accept that, I fully understand that.

Watch part of the video here:

“There are so many reasons why this is so complex, and I want everyone to know my intentions have never been in a place to upset or hurt anyone – it is not who I am,” she continued. “I have been through so many ups and downs in my life, and this is one of them. I deeply apologize to writers, and I deeply apologize to unions, I deeply apologize.” 

The three-minute long video saw the mom-of-two in tears as she owned up to her mistakes. It appeared to have been filmed in her living room. 

© The Drew Barrymore Show

“There are so many reasons why this is so complex, and I want everyone to know my intentions have never been in a place to upset or hurt anyone – it is not who I am,” she continued. “I have been through so many ups and downs in my life, and this is one of them. I deeply apologize to writers, and I deeply apologize to unions, I deeply apologize.” 

“Since launching live in a pandemic, I just wanted to make a show that was there for people in sensitive times, and I weighed the scales and I thought, ‘If we could go on during a global pandemic and everything that the world has experienced through 2020, why would this sideline us?’ 

“I want to just put one foot in front of the other and make a show that’s there for people regardless of anything else that’s happening in the world because that’s when I think we all need something that wants to be there being very realistic, in very realistic times. So that is my ‘why’.” 

© Amy Sussman

The statement comes after a week of outrage, following her decision to return to production of her CBS talk show.

Drew continues to claim that the show is in compliance with all rules – including not “discussing or promoting film and television that is struck of any kind” – however the show itself is considered a struck show because its writers are covered under the WGA contracts.  

By returning without its writers, it prompts so-called scabs to write for the show, undermining the guild. The View has continued without its writers, and has been picketed in New York. The Talk stopped production when the strikes went into effect in May but will head back into production soon, and is expected to be picketed.

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