Drew Barrymore is set to quit hosting the MTV Movie & TV Awards on Sunday, as late-night comedy shows go dark and thousands of TV and film writers picket in Hollywood. announced that he would resign in support of the strike. line.
Barrymore’s decision, announced Thursday, is the latest blow to awards ceremonies, with the red carpet also canceled and other talent likely to pull out. according to variety.
In a statement to the magazine, Barrymore said, “I have listened to the writers and to truly honor them, I am turning away from hosting the MTV Movie & TV Awards live in solidarity with the strike.” Stated. “Everything we celebrate and respect about film and television comes from their creation.”
Barrymore said on Instagram She returned to host the show next year and was still planning to see the show on Sunday.
Bruce Gilmer, president of Paramount Global and executive producer of the MTV Movie & TV Awards, told Variety that the show will run without a host.
It’s unclear which celebrity presenters and guests are planning to attend, including Jennifer Coolidge, who is being honored.
The MTV Movie & TV Awards have responded to an abrupt shift before delaying and ultimately canceling their 2020 shows due to the Covid-19 pandemic. A special hosted by actress Vanessa Hudgens aired later that year.
Thousands of screenwriters went on strike Tuesday after 15 years of relative labor peace in Hollywood.
Some of the most immediate impact was seen on talk shows and sketch shows, where new episodes of the late-night show hosted by Stephen Colbert and Jimmy Kimmel were paused. “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” and “Late Night with Seth Meyers” were reruns, but the hosts of those shows and NBC decided to extend staff salaries for a short period of time. I agree. depending on the deadline.
“Saturday Night Live” has canceled new episodes scheduled for this weekend, with NBC saying it will “rerun until further notice.”
The writers say their pay has remained the same, even though television production has grown over the past decade. The unions representing writers, the eastern and western chapters of the Writers Guild of America, said, “Corporate actions are creating a gig economy within the union workforce and their steadfastness in this negotiation. has betrayed its commitment to further devalue unions.” writing profession. ”
WGA leaders said during negotiations the survival of writing as a profession was at stake.
The Motion Picture and Television Producers Alliance, which negotiates on behalf of Hollywood companies, said in a statement before the strike began this week that its proposal included “a generous increase in compensation for writers.”
