NEW YORK (AP) 鈥� The dropped as the host for this year's ceremony on Tuesday, a day after her talk show taped its first episode since the began.
鈥淭he National Book Awards is an evening dedicated to celebrating the power of literature, and the incomparable contributions of writers to our culture," the organization said in a statement. "In light of the announcement that 鈥楾he Drew Barrymore Show鈥� will resume production, the National Book Foundation has rescinded Ms. Barrymore鈥檚 invitation to host the 74th National Book Awards Ceremony.鈥�
The resumption of the CBS talk show doesn't inherently cause issues with which is also on strike, as daytime talk shows are governed by a different Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Radio and Television Artists contract that was renewed and ratified last year. But Barrymore's show employs at least three writers who are members of which has been on strike since early May. Those writers were picketing outside the CBS Broadcast Building on Monday.
鈥淭he only people I know for sure that are not going back are us three WGA writers. And the rest, I can鈥檛 really speak for,鈥� Chelsea White, one of the show's writers, said on the picket line. 鈥淚 think first and foremost, this is obviously way bigger than just 鈥楾he Drew Barrymore Show鈥� 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 both guilds for crossing the picket line. The fourth season of the talk show is slated to start airing Sept. 18. A representative for Barrymore did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
In an Instagram post on Sunday, Barrymore said she was 鈥渕aking 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.鈥�
鈥淚 own this choice,鈥� she added, continuing that they would comply with the strikes by not discussing or promoting struck work.
She also mentioned writers in her post.
鈥淚 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,鈥� she wrote.
At the outset of the writers strike, Barrymore had dropped out as host of out of solidarity with those on strike (she later won best host at the event, which ditched the live element for a clip-heavy pre-taped show). Elsewhere in the literary world, Netflix CEO where he was to receive a Business Visionary Award, saying he didn't want to distract from 鈥渢he important work that PEN America does for writers and journalists鈥� (Netflix is among the studios and streamers on the other side of the table from the striking workers).
When Barrymore was announced as scheduled for Nov. 15, the chair of the National Book Foundation's board of directors lauded her work championing books.
鈥淭hroughout their careers, Drew Barrymore and Oprah Winfrey have each demonstrated their enduring belief that books have the power to change readers鈥� lives 鈥� by opening doors, sparking conversations, and building community,鈥� David Steinberger said in a statement, also referencing the ceremony's guest speaker, Winfrey.
On Tuesday, the foundation sought to put the spotlight back on the writers.
鈥淥ur 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,鈥� the statement said.
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Associated Press journalists John Carucci and Ryan Pearson contributed to this report.
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For more news on the Hollywood strikes, visit
Hillel Italie, The Associated Press
