Variety reported that the strike is the first in 15 years by the 11,500 members of the Writers Guild of America (WGA). The union is asking for better pay, more writers per show, and less exclusivity on single projects, among other things.
Barrymore released a statement saying, “I have listened to the writers, and in order to truly respect them, I will pivot from hosting the MTV Movie & TV Awards live in solidarity with the strike. Everything we celebrate and honor about movies and television is born out of their creation.”
The strike could affect how long writers have to go without pay, as well as how many productions will be delayed, shortened or scrapped. The last Hollywood writers’ strike in 2007-08 took three months to resolve.
