Drew Barrymore has been officially uninvited from hosting the National Book Foundation's annual gala.
Known for her roles in movies like Charlie's Angels, Barrymore had originally been slated to be the star hostess for the event focused on "celebrating the power of literature."
In a public statement, the National Book Foundation explained their decision: "The National Book Awards is an evening dedicated to celebrating the power of literature, and the incomparable contributions of writers to our culture.
"In light of the announcement that The Drew Barrymore Show will resume production, the National Book Foundation has rescinded Ms. Barrymore's invitation to host the 74th National Book Awards Ceremony.
"Our commitment is to ensure that the focus of the Awards remains on celebrating writers and books, and we are grateful to Ms. Barrymore and her team for their understanding in this situation."
Barrymore's withdrawal as host comes amid a larger wave of scrutiny she's facing for her decision to resume filming of her talk show.
The move is particularly controversial given the ongoing WGA (Writers Guild of America) and SAG-AFTRA (Screen Actors Guild‐American Federation of Television and Radio Artists) strikes that have brought much of Hollywood to a standstill.
Drew Barrymore opens up about her bedroom antics:The striking writers and actors are demanding better pay, improved residual conditions, and safeguards against the threat of artificial intelligence replacing them.
In a detailed Instagram post, Drew Barrymore defended her decision to resume her show, stating that she initially "made a choice to walk away from the MTV, film and television awards because [she] was the host and it had a direct conflict with what the strike was dealing with which was studios, streamers, film, and television."
She elaborated that her show wrapped on April 20 and so never had to shut down. Despite the ongoing strikes, she opted to continue her show because it is "bigger than just [her]."
This entire episode raises significant questions about the role and responsibility of actors and other industry professionals in supporting such strikes.
Barrymore's decision—and the resultant pullout from the National Book Awards—highlights the complexities and nuances involved in navigating professional commitments during highly sensitive times for the industry.
With many in Hollywood taking a stand by pausing their projects, Barrymore's move to carry on raises eyebrows. Her talk show becomes one of the few to proceed despite the strikes, prompting the question of whether others in the industry will follow suit or hold their ground in solidarity with the strikes.
