Drew Barrymore Withdraws from Hosting MTV Movie & TV Awards in Solidarity with Striking Writers Guild of America Members

Actress and talk show host Drew Barrymore has withdrawn from hosting duties for the upcoming MTV Movie & TV Awards in order to show solidarity with the thousands of Writers Guild of America (WGA) members who went on strike this week.

In a statement to HuffPost on Thursday, Barrymore said, “I have listened to the writers, and in order to truly respect them, I will pivot from hosting the MTV Movie & TV Awards live in solidarity with the strike.”

The WGA went on strike Tuesday after failing to negotiate a new three-year contract with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, the trade group which represents major Hollywood studios such as Netflix, Sony, Disney, Paramount, NBC Universal, Amazon and Apple.

Barrymore has agreed to host next year’s show instead, and some segments of this year’s show have already been recorded, so there’s a chance video of Barrymore may pop up on viewers’ screens on Sunday, Variety reported.

The strike has already had a major impact on the entertainment industry, with production on several TV shows and films being halted. The WGA is seeking higher pay and better benefits for its members, as well as more transparency and fair compensation for streaming services.

Barrymore’s decision to step down as host of the MTV Movie & TV Awards is a powerful show of solidarity with the striking writers. Her move is likely to be seen as a sign of support for the WGA’s efforts to secure better pay and benefits for its members.