Drew Barrymore Steps Down as MTV Movie & TV Awards Host to Support Writers’ Strike, Leaving Ceremony Host-less

Drew Barrymore announced she will be stepping down as host of the upcoming MTV Movie & TV Awards “in solidarity” with the WGA Writers’ Strike that began this week.

“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,” she said in a statement, per Variety. “Everything we celebrate and honor about movies and television is born out of their creation. And until a solution is reached, I am choosing to wait but I’ll be watching from home and hope you will join me.”

Barrymore shared that she plans to return next year to host the ceremony. However, the actress and talk show host may still make an appearance during the program since she already pre-taped “several” segments for the show, Variety reports.

“I thank MTV, who has truly been some of the best partners I have ever worked with. And I can’t wait to be a part of this next year, when I can truly celebrate everything that MTV has created, which is a show that allows fans to choose who the awards go to and is truly inclusive,” she said.

Bruce Gillmer, president of music, programming and events at Paramount Global and executive producer of the MTV Movie & TV Awards, said Barrymore has their “full support.”

“She’s more of a partner really, she’s in it every day, just super passionate and super engaged and creative. She even bought some of her own team along for the journey. So when this all reared its head, we started to prepare for what could be. She is not surprisingly, standing in solidarity with the writers, which we have full respect for,” Gillmer said, per Variety.

Gillmer confirmed this year’s awards will be moving forward despite being host-less. He also noted that they plan to address the writers’ strike during the program and explain why the ceremony is formatted differently this year.

A number of celebrities are slated to appear at the MTV Movie & TV Awards, but Gillmer acknowledged that number is subject to change “should the talent or some of the talent not show.” He said, “We’ve got backups to our backups.”

“We’re going to be super respectful of the talents’ decisions to either be involved in pre tapes, show up or not show up, whatever they decide,” he said. “We’ve got backup plans and coverage just in case, so I guess the short answer is, I’m not sure yet.”

This year’s MTV Movie & TV Awards will be a medley of live and pre-taped moments, and will feature “exclusive” sneak peeks at upcoming films.

Barrymore first announced her new gig in January, while dressed up as killer robot M3gan on her daytime talk show The Drew Barrymore Show. “Wow, I am so honored to have been chosen — especially his year, when the show is all about the fans,” she said at the time.

The MTV Movie & TV Awards airs on Sunday, May 7 at 8 p.m. ET/PT.