Drew Barrymore Drops Out of Hosting the MTV Awards
In solidarity with the current Hollywood writers’ strike, Drew Barrymore relinquishes her position as host for the upcoming MTV Movie & TV Awards.
Drew Barrymore announces she will no longer host the MTV Awards, with the May 7 show date just days away. The actress makes this move amidst an ongoing Hollywood writers’ strike, aiming to show her support for the writers. Taking to Instagram, Barrymore reposted a Variety Magazine article reporting the announcement. She will be watching the awards from home but plans to return for the 2024 awards.
Over 11,000 film and TV writers from the Writers Guild of America (WGA) are striking after failed negotiations with streaming platforms. These writers are asking for fair compensation for their labor and more stability in their work (for example, longer-term contracts).
For six weeks, the WGA attempted to make a deal with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP). The AMPTP represents streaming giants Netflix, Amazon, Apple, Disney, Discovery-Warner, NBC, Universal, Paramount, and Sony. But the WGA was not given any offers that would suffice. The AMPTP’s “immovable stance in this negotiation has betrayed a commitment to further devaluing the profession of writing.”
Barrymore is receiving a ton of support for her decision, and many people in and outside of Hollywood are backing the writers’ strike. Elaborating on her decision, Barrymore tells Variety about her appreciation for Hollywood’s writers. “Everything we celebrate and honor about movies and television is born out of their creation.”
Yet another reason why Drew Barrymore us loved by so many. This is a major move. https://t.co/nNI7MbgNJA
— Jeremy Danté (@jeremydante) May 4, 2023
MTV is still sorting out what the awards ceremony will look like with this last-minute and impactful change. Bruce Gillmer, an executive producer of the MTV Movie & TV Awards, expresses support for Barrymore’s decision. In terms of logistics, he notes that pre-taped recordings featuring Barrymore already exist and are planned to air.
Furthermore, MTV intends to acknowledge the strike and explain why the awards are running differently this year on air. And overall, the MTV Awards should be going smoothly. Gillmer assures Variety that “We’ve got backups to our backups.”
To join Barrymore from the comfort of your own home, tune into the MTV Movie & TV Awards this Sunday, May 7. The ceremony will be live on MTV at 8:00 p.m. Eastern and Pacific time and will also be streaming live on Paramount+.
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