Drew Barrymore Stands by Her Decision to Return for ‘The Drew Barrymore Show’ Season 4 Amid Dual Hollywood Strikes: “I Own This Choice”

Drew Barrymore is standing by her decision to return to The Drew Barrymore Show amid the dual Hollywood strikes. According to the beloved talk show host, she “owns this choice” and is promising to follow the rules set forth by the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes when her series returns for Season 4 on Sept. 18.

Earlier this year, Barrymore dropped out of hosting the MTV Movie & TV Awards to stand in solidarity with the writers’ strike, which first began in May.

“I made a choice to walk away from the MTV Film and Television awards because I was the host and it had a direct conflict with what the strike was dealing with which was studios, streamers, film, and television,” she explained in a lengthy Instagram post. “It was also in the first week of the strike and so I did what I thought was the appropriate thing at the time to stand in solidarity with the writers.”

While The Drew Barrymore Show Season 3 finale didn’t air until mid-May, the actress noted that they finished taping the season before the strike started.

“To be clear, our talk show actually wrapped on April 20th so we never had to shut down the show,” she said. “However, I am also 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.”

She added, “I own this choice. We are in compliance with not discussing or promoting film and television that is struck of any kind.”

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With the talk show launching at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Barrymore pointed out that her program was “built for sensitive times” and “has only functioned through what the real world is going through in real time.”

“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 continued. “I hope for a resolve for everyone as soon as possible. We have navigated difficult times since we first came on air. And so I take a step forward to start Season 4 once again with an astute humility.”

A spokesperson for CBS Media Ventures told Deadline that The Drew Barrymore Show “will not be performing any writing work covered by the WGA strike.” Still, the WGAE is planning to picket the show beginning today — the same day tapings for Season 4 are set to begin.

“The Drew Barrymore Show is a WGA-covered, struck show. It has stayed off the air since the strike began on May 2nd, but has now (unfortunately) decided to return without its writers,” a WGAE spokesperson said in a statement to Deadline. “The Guild has, and will continue to, picket any struck show that continues production for the duration of the strike.”

While the guest lineup has yet to be announced, The Drew Barrymore Show will return for Season 4 beginning on Monday, Sept. 18. You can check the website for local listings.