Culture September 15, 2023

Drew Barrymore apologizes to writers for bringing talk show back, further defends decision

WATCH: Our favorite Drew Barrymore moments for her birthday

Drew Barrymore posted an emotional video to social media Friday after receiving backlash for her decision to resume her daytime talk show amid the SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes.

She accepted responsibility for the decision and said her intent was not to upset or hurt anymore. "I deeply apologize to writers, I deeply apologize to unions," she said.

MORE: Drew Barrymore dropped as National Book Awards host after talk show returns amid strikes

"My decision to go back to the show -- I didn't want to hide behind people," she continued. "So I won't, and I won't polish this with bells and whistles and publicists and corporate rhetoric. I'll just stand out there and accept and be responsible."

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Members of the WGA-EAST and SAG-AFTRA picket outside of The Drew Barrymore Show as audience members arrive ahead of the show at CBS Broadcast Center, Sept. 12, 2023, in New York.
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Barrymore also explained why she made the decision for "The Drew Barrymore Show" to resume production.

"I certainly couldn't have expected this kind of attention," she said. "We aren't gonna break rules, and we will be in compliance. I wanted to do this because, as I said, this is bigger than me, and there are other people's jobs on the line."

Season 4 of "The Drew Barrymore Show" is set to premiere Sept. 18.