“The National Book Awards is a night dedicated to celebrating the power of literature and the unparalleled contributions writers make to our culture,” the National Book Foundation, which presents the awards, said in a statement Tuesday. “Given that ‘Drew… With news that The Barrymore Show’ will resume production, the National Book Foundation has rescinded Ms. Barrymore’s invitation to host the 74th National Book Awards.”
The ceremony, sometimes called the Oscars of publishing, is scheduled for November 15.
Barrymore’s return to CBS talk show doesn’t itself cause problems actors guild, The company is also on strike because the daytime talk show is governed by another Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Radio and Television Artists contract that was renewed and approved last year.But Barrymore’s show employed at least three writers; writers guild, There has been a strike since early May. The writers picketed outside the CBS Broadcasting Building on Monday.
“As far as I know, the only people who aren’t going back are three of us WGA writers. The rest, I really can’t speak for,” Chelsea White, one of the show’s writers, said on the picket line. “I think first and foremost, this is obviously much bigger than ‘The Drew Barrymore Show’ and the writers. We are here to stand with our union and always stand with our union and are very pleased and excitement.”
Barrymore drew criticism from members of both guilds for crossing the picket line, as well as from Colson Whitehead, Alexander Chee and other writers who questioned whether she should continue to host the National Book Awards.
The fourth season of the talk show is expected to begin airing on September 18. A representative for Barrymore did not immediately respond to a request for comment. In an Instagram post on Sunday, Barrymore said she “chose to come back for the first time on our show, which may have my name on it, but it’s not just me.”
“I have the choice,” she added, going on to say they will comply with the strike by not discussing or promoting the work.
She also mentioned the writer in her post.
“I wanted to put something out there that writers do well, which is a way to bring us together or help us understand the human experience,” she wrote.
Barrymore stepped down as showrunner when the writers’ strike began. MTV Movie & TV Awards Out of solidarity with the strikers (she later won best presenter at the event, which ditched the live element in favor of a heavily edited, pre-recorded show).Elsewhere in the literary world, Netflix C.E.O. Ted Sarandos withdraws from PEN America Gala in May, He’ll be there to receive the Business Visionary Award, and said he doesn’t want to distract from “the important work PEN America does for writers and journalists” (Netflix is one of the studios and streamers on the other side of the table, as the introduction attention workers).
The National Book Foundation has long worked to raise the profile of the book awards, and Barrymore will be its best-known host in years.when she was announced as Sponsors of this year’s National Book Awards, The chairman of the National Book Foundation’s board of directors praised her work as a book advocate.
David Steinberg said in a statement: “Throughout their careers, Drew Barrymore and Oprah Winfrey have demonstrated their unwavering belief in the power of books to change readers’ lives. —by opening doors, sparking conversations and building community.” Guest speaker, Winfrey.
On Tuesday, the foundation sought to put writers back in the spotlight.
“Our commitment is to ensure that the focus of the awards remains on celebrating authors and books, and we are grateful to Ms. Barrymore and her team for their understanding of this situation,” the statement said.
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