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Evan Agostini/Evan Agostini/Invision/AP
NEW YORK — Drew Barrymore has been dropped as host of the upcoming National Book Awards ceremony, a day after her discuss present taped its first episode since the Hollywood writers strike began.
“The National Book Awards is an evening dedicated to celebrating the power of literature, and the incomparable contributions of writers to our culture,” the National Book Foundation, which presents the award, mentioned in a press release Tuesday. “In light of the announcement that ‘The Drew Barrymore Show’ will resume production, the National Book Foundation has rescinded Ms.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 awards event, typically known as the Academy Awards of the publishing world, is scheduled for Nov. 15.
Barrymore’s resumption of her CBS discuss present would not inherently trigger points with the actors guild, which can be on strike, as daytime discuss reveals are ruled by a special Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Radio and Television Artists contract that was renewed and ratified final 12 months. But Barrymore’s present employs no less than three writers who’re members of the writers guild, which has been on strike since early May. Those writers have been picketing outdoors the CBS Broadcast Building on Monday.
“The only people I know for sure that are not going back are us three WGA writers. And the rest, I can’t really speak for,” Chelsea White, one of many present’s writers, mentioned on the picket line. “I think first and foremost, this is obviously way bigger than just ‘The Drew Barrymore Show’ and writers. We are out here standing with our union and feeling great and excited always to stand with our union.”
Barrymore drew criticism from members of each guilds for crossing the picket line, and from Colson Whitehead, Alexander Chee and different authors who questioned whether or not she ought to stay as host of the National Book Awards.
The fourth season of the discuss present is slated to begin airing Sept. 18. A consultant for Barrymore didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark. In an Instagram submit on Sunday, Barrymore mentioned she was “making the choice to come back for the first time in this strike for our show, that may have my name on it but this is bigger than just me.”
“I own this choice,” she added, persevering with that they’d adjust to the strikes by not discussing or selling struck work.
She additionally talked about writers in her submit.
“I want to be there to provide what writers do so well, which is a way to bring us together or help us make sense of the human experience,” she wrote.
At the outset of the writers strike, Barrymore had dropped out as host of the MTV Movie & TV Awards out of solidarity with these on strike (she later gained greatest host on the occasion, which ditched the reside component for a clip-heavy pre-taped present). Elsewhere within the literary world, Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos pulled out of May’s PEN America Gala, the place he was to obtain a Business Visionary Award, saying he did not need to distract from “the important work that PEN America does for writers and journalists” (Netflix is among the many studios and streamers on the opposite aspect of the desk from the placing staff).
The National Book Foundation has lengthy sought to lift the profile of the guide awards, and Barrymore would have been its best-known host in years. When she was introduced as host of this 12 months’s National Book Awards, the chair of the National Book Foundation’s board of administrators lauded her work championing books.
“Throughout their careers, Drew Barrymore and Oprah Winfrey have each demonstrated their enduring belief that books have the power to change readers’ lives — by opening doors, sparking conversations, and building community,” David Steinberger mentioned in a press release, additionally referencing the ceremony’s visitor speaker, Winfrey.
On Tuesday, the inspiration sought to place the highlight again on the writers.
“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,” the assertion mentioned.
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