Drew Barrymore has well and truly stepped in it, hasn’t she? To recap: on Sunday she announced via Instagram that she was owning her choice to bring back her talk show mid-strikes because it’s bigger than just her but don’t worry they won’t discuss or promote other struck work. The post was also laced with words about how the show launched during the pandemic, she wants to make sense of the human experience, and she will bring us together with astute humility. By Monday the WGA clapped back saying the show returning now was a violation of strike rules, and they dispatched members to picket outside CBS in New York where the show was taping. Also amid this Monday maelstrom, two people who won tickets to the show’s taping were kicked out for wearing WGA pins (that are only 1-2 inches long). Now in another hit, on Tuesday night the National Book Foundation disinvited Drew from serving as host at their awards ceremony in November. The National Book Foundation is not on strike now. This is what’s called solidarity, Drew.

The National Book awards has rescinded Drew Barrymore’s invitation to host its upcoming annual award ceremony in the wake of the return of her talk show “The Drew Barrymore Show” this fall amid Hollywood strikes.

In a statement to social media, the National Book Foundation wrote “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 In light of the announcement that ‘The Drew Barrymore Show’ will resume production, the National Book Foundation has rescinded Ms.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.”

The foundation added, “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 was initially announced as host of the Nov. 15 event in late July. Now, just days after some protested her decision to bring back her talk show on Sept. 18, the foundation has revoked its decision, with no replacement host announced.

While picketers expressed anger toward Barrymore, SAG-AFTRA issued a statement ensuring that the talk show’s return did not constitute scabbing: “‘The Drew Barrymore Show’ is produced under the Network Television Code which is a separate contract and is not struck. It is permissible work and Drew’s role as host does not violate the current strike rules.”

[From Yahoo! Entertainment]

It kills me every time someone from the show’s camp trots out those talking points about how they’re not violating strike rules… for SAG-AFTRA. Do they really think that ploy is working? (It’s not.) It’s like a parent asking to see your report card and responding with “but I didn’t cut gym today!” They’re totally separate issues! Gold star for not scabbing the actors (technically speaking, symbolically is another question). The rest of us are talking about the writers.

It’s hard to believe it was only three months ago that Drew was riding the high of that great New York Mag profile. I just re-read the article and cringed when she comments on the network having just renewed her show for its fourth season, yet it was the first time they did so enthusiastically instead of begrudgingly. I wonder if subconsciously she freaked out over things going too well and threw in some self-destruction to counter balance. Like they say, when life gives you lemonade, make lemons!

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Photos credit: JOHN NACION/startraksphoto.com/Cover Images and Getty