As the Writers Guild of America (WGA) strike continues to make waves in Hollywood, “The Drew Barrymore Show” finds itself in hot water. Dominic Turiczek and Cassidy Carter, fans of the show, were recently escorted out of a taping at CBS Broadcast Studios in New York for wearing WGA pins. The incident has raised questions about the show’s stance on the ongoing strike and its treatment of fans and staff alike.
“You’re Out, No Questions Asked”
Turiczek and Carter were initially unaware of the ongoing strikes when they accepted WGA buttons being distributed outside the studio. However, shortly after entering the building, they were confronted by a security personnel. “Some security guy came and pulled us off to the side,” Turiczek told TheWrap. “He was like, ‘You’re out. I already talked to people above me, and I see that on your shirt. I’m part of the show, you’re out, no questions asked.'”
Despite offering to remove the pins, Turiczek and Carter were forcibly removed from the premises. Both described the security staff’s behavior as “aggressive” and noted that they were “yelled at.”
From Audience to Picket Line
Following the incident, Turiczek and Carter decided to join the WGA picket lines themselves. They now believe that this choice will result in a permanent ban from attending future tapings of the show. “It is our policy to welcome everyone to our show tapings,” a spokesperson for “The Drew Barrymore Show” told TheWrap. “Due to heightened security concerns today, we regret that two audience members were not permitted to attend or were not allowed access.”
A Shift in Public Sentiment
Drew Barrymore was initially seen as an advocate for her writers and the union, especially when she opted out of hosting the MTV Movie and TV Awards. However, her decision to return to production has led to a shift in public opinion. “It’s just very disheartening to see that ‘The Drew Barrymore Show’ does not care about the strike at all,” Turiczek said.
The Fallout: Fans and Writers Alike
The incident has also affected Turiczek and Carter’s perception of Barrymore and the show. “The statement she put out … was so disheartening and so disrespectful to the writers,” Carter said. “You can tell after reading the statement and seeing how her crew handles things on her set, they truly don’t care,” Turiczek added.
As the WGA strike continues, the actions of “The Drew Barrymore Show” have left many questioning its commitment to its writers and fans. With new episodes set to premiere on September 18, the show finds itself at a crossroads, facing both internal and external pressures. Whether or not it can navigate these challenges successfully remains to be seen.
