cross-posted from: https://feddit.uk/post/2483703

Comedian Katherine Ryan allegedly confronted Brand during the filming of Comedy Central’s “Roast Battle,” but her remarks were edited out.

It seems that Russell Brand’s alleged sexual misconduct may have been a well-known industry secret.

The British comedian left Comedy Central’s “Roast Battle” in 2018 after co-judge Katherine Ryan called him a “sexual predator” on camera, three sources who worked with the show’s production company, Fulwell 73, told Deadline in a story published Monday.

The sources told the entertainment outlet that Ryan, a Canadian comedian who worked with Brand on the reality competition show, called him out on numerous occasions during filming, but her pointed remarks were edited out of the final cut of the episodes.

On Sunday, The Mirror resurfaced a clip of Ryan telling the BBC’s Louis Theroux in 2022 that she had once confronted a co-worker about being a “predator” directly to “his face.” She did not name the co-worker at the time of the interview.

She told Theroux that it was “very dangerous for us to have this conversation.”

“I’m happy to have it,” Ryan continued, “but it is a litigious minefield, because a lot of people have tried to nail this person down for their alleged crimes, and this person has very good lawyers.”

She added that the allegations against her co-worker were “not really my story to tell.”

“No one has perpetrated any sexual assaults against me, but this person I believe very strongly — so do a lot of people … it’s an open secret — is a perpetrator of sexual assault,” Ryan told Theroux.

According to Deadline and The Mirror, Ryan also told Theroux that she had confronted this co-worker “in front of loads of people, in the format of the show.”

Deadline confirmed with its sources that Ryan was referring to Brand during her interview with Theroux.

Ryan did not immediately respond to HuffPost’s request for comment and confirmation.

Over the weekend, the U.K.-based outlets The Sunday Times, The Times and Channel 4 Dispatches released a joint statement saying they were investigating allegations that Brand had sexually assaulted and abused four women between 2006 and 2013 when the comedian’s acting career was at its peak.

One woman, who is now 31, said she had a three-month relationship with Brand when she was 16, and that Brand “forced his penis down her throat” at the time. She characterized the comedian as abusive and controlling.

Another woman who was interviewed by the British outlets said that Brand raped her against a wall in her Los Angeles home. The outlets’ joint statement also notes that they obtained medical records showing that this woman received treatment at a rape crisis center the day she said her rape occurred.

Brand has denied the allegations. In a video he posted on social media the day before the British outlets’ investigation was published, Brand said he had received notice of “some very serious allegations that I absolutely refute.” He also suggested that he was the victim of a “coordinated attack” by the media.

Deadline notes that Brand has been virtually absent from British television since his one-season stint on “Roast Battle” in 2018, with the exception of an appearance on “The Great Celebrity Bake Off” in 2019.

In the past couple of years, the comedian has also rebranded himself as a wellness influencer and has become increasingly right-wing on social media. Brand shared COVID-19 conspiracy theories on his YouTube channel and hosted ex-Fox News personality Tucker Carlson on his channel in July.

"Several women" have come forward with new claims against Russell Brand it was reported Monday

Russell Brand is reportedly the focus of new allegations.

On Monday, the U.K. newspaper The Times reported that “several women” had contacted the publication since it published allegations of rape, sexual assault and abuse by multiple women on Saturday in a joint investigation run with The Sunday Times and the Channel 4 current affairs show Dispatches.

Scotland Yard has also been encouraged to investigate the allegations against Brand by government minister Caroline Nokes, who said Monday that “celebrity can act as a shield," reported The Times.

Nokes, who chairs the British parliament's committee on women and equalities, added the allegations were “incredibly shocking and criminal," and that they were “first and foremost a matter for the police," the outlet added.

On Monday, Scotland Yard confirmed to PEOPLE that London's Metropolitan Police was "aware of media reporting of a series of allegations of sexual assault."

"At this time, we have not received any reports in relation to this," the statement added. "If anyone believes they have been the victim of a sexual assault, no matter how long ago it happened, we would encourage them to contact police."

"We spoke with The Sunday Times on Saturday, 16 September," the statement continued. "We will be making further approaches to the Sunday Times and Channel 4 to ensure that any victims of crime who they have spoken with are aware of how they may report any criminal allegations to police."

In a separate statement, a BBC spokesperson also told PEOPLE on Monday that the corporation was "urgently looking into the issues raised" by the report.

"The documentary and associated reports contained serious allegations, spanning a number of years," the BBC spokesperson added. "Russell Brand worked on BBC radio programmes between 2006 and 2008 and we are urgently looking into the issues raised.”

Brand was first accused of sexual and emotional abuse by multiple women by The Times and Dispatches on Saturday evening local time. Four of the women involved have so far remained anonymous — including a 16-year-old.

In the report, an unidentified woman accused Brand of raping her against a wall in his Los Angeles home in 2012. A former colleague also alleged that Brand sexually assaulted her in 2013, while Brand’s ex-girlfriend Jordan Martin accused him of sexual assault and abuse.

The media outlets reported that the incidents allegedly took place between 2006 and 2013 when the comedian was presenting shows for BBC Radio 2 and Channel 4 and acting in Hollywood movies.

In reply, Brand said Friday that he "absolutely" refuted the allegations in a video shared on social media. He added that the claims were "extremely egregious and aggressive attacks."

The BBC, Channel 4 and Banijay, the new owners of Big Brother’s Big Mouth producers Endemol, have since reportedly opened investigations into the allegations.

“In light of the very serious allegations raised by Dispatches and The Times/Sunday Times investigation relating to the alleged serious misconduct of Russell Brand while presenting shows produced by Endemol in 2004 and 2005, Banijay UK has launched an urgent internal investigation and will cooperate with any requests for information from broadcast partners and external agencies,” Banijay stated on their website.

“We encourage anybody who feels that they were affected by Brand’s behavior while working on these productions to contact us in confidence by emailing speakup@banijayuk.com or via the anonymous link on http://speakup.banijay.com/."

Channel 4 said in a statement per BBC News that it is also conducting its own internal investigation following the accusations and has urged "anyone who is aware of such behavior to contact us directly."

The Telegraph reported that the outlet had "taken down all content featuring Russell Brand" during the investigation

Trevi Women and Children's Charity UK, who Brand worked with though his Stay Free Foundation has also cut ties with the comedian, following the allegations.

“Russell became aware of our charity in 2022 after hearing about some of the incredible mothers we have helped to become drug-free over the years. He wanted to support our cause and raise money through his Stay Free Foundation,” the charity said in a statement via Instagram.

“Today's media revelations have been difficult to process but our priority remains and continues to be the safety and well-being of all women and girls now and in the future,” the statement continued. “We have ended our association with Russell Brand and the Stay Free Foundation.”

“As a charity whose values put women's voices at the heart of what we do, we always prioritize supporting women affected by violence and abuse and empower them to live without violence or fear,” the charity concluded.

In a further development, Brand's literary agent Tavistock Wood also confirmed to PEOPLE that it would no longer represent him.

“Russell Brand categorically and vehemently denied the allegation made in 2020, but we now believe we were horribly misled by him. Tavistock Wood has terminated all professional ties to Brand," the company said in a written release.

If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, please contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or go to rainn.org.

Tavistock Wood Management Agency said it believed it was "horribly misled by him."

Russell Brand’s management agency terminated all professional ties to the actor and comedian after sexual assault allegations were published Saturday following a joint investigation by The Times of London, The Sunday Times and Channel 4 Dispatches.

In a statement published Sunday, Tavistock Wood Management Agency said it believed it was “horribly misled by him.”

“Russell Brand categorically and vehemently denied the allegation made in 2020, but we now believe we were horribly misled by him," the agency said. "TW has terminated all professional ties to Brand.”

Four women have come forward with allegations against Brand that include rape, sexual assault and emotional abuse. The U.K. news organizations published the allegations Saturday after a joint investigation.

Brand has denied the allegations.

“But amidst this litany of astonishing, rather baroque attacks are some very serious allegations that I absolutely refute,” Brand said in a social media post.

One of the women, who alleges Brand groomed and raped her at 16, told The Times that she went to Brand's literary agent at Tavistock Wood in 2020 with the allegations.

Three years later, Brand has been taken down from Tavistock Wood's website.

The U.K. Metropolitan Police Service said it was "aware of the media reporting of a series of allegations of sexual assault."

"At this time, we have not received any reports in relation to this. If anyone believes they have been the victim of a sexual assault, no matter how long ago it happened, we would encourage them to contact police," it said in a statement.

Police also said they spoke with The Sunday Times and will to continue speak with it and Channel 4 "to ensure that any victims of crime who they have spoken with are aware of how they may report any criminal allegations to police."

Channel 4, The Times and The Sunday Times aired a special Saturday titled “Russell Brand: In Plain Sight.” The documentary features five women who allege that Brand has raped, sexually assaulted or abused them.

Some of the events Brand is accused of are alleged to have happened while he was working as a host and presenter for the BBC from 2006 to 2008.

In a statement, the BBC said it is "urgently looking into the issues raised" by the documentary.

“Russell Brand worked for a number of different organisations of which the BBC was one," the statement read. "As is well known, Russell Brand left the BBC after a serious editorial breach in 2008 — as did the then controller of Radio 2. The circumstances of the breach were reviewed in detail at the time. We hope that demonstrates that the BBC takes issues seriously and is prepared to act."

The U.K. women's charity Trevi Women announced that it had cut ties with Brand after the documentary aired on Channel 4 Dispatches.

"We have ended our association with Russell Brand and the Stay Free Foundation," the charity said in a statement, referring to a charity Brand runs to support people recovering from addiction.

Contrary to previous reports, Desiigner will not have to register as a sex offender unless it requires him to do so.

Desiigner's Attorney Explains Rapper's Sentence in Indecent Exposure Case

According to a report via People, published on Saturday (Sept. 16), Desiigner will not have to register as a sex offender unless the state requires him to do so. Last week, the Brooklyn rapper was sentenced for exposing himself and masturbating during a flight in April of 2023. According to court documents, as part of his sentence, Desiigner, born Sidney Royel Selby III, was ordered to comply with the requirements of the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act in the state that he resides in (which is California).

This led many in the media to report that the "Panda" rapper must register as a sex offender. However, Desiigner's attorney, Ryan Garry, told People, that is not correct.

"Regarding the issue of Mr. Selby registering as a sex offender, many news outlets have incorrectly stated that he is required to register as an absolute condition of his probation. They are wrong," he told the publication.

"Since this was a federal misdemeanor, the sentencing judgement states that if the State of California or some other government entity requires that Mr. Selby must register as a sex offender, then he must," he continued.

"However, the parties in this case have come to the legal conclusion, after significant research and consultation with lawyers in California, that this misdemeanor conviction is not one that will cause Mr. Selby to have to register as a sex offender," he added. "If some government agency in California disagrees with our analysis, then we will address the matter at that point in time."

Desiigner Gets Sentenced in His Indecent Exposure Case

According to documents obtained by XXL on Thursday (Sept. 14), Desiigner pleaded guilty on Tuesday (Sept. 12) for a charge of obscenely and indecently exposed genitalia in a public place. He was sentenced to two years probation and must continue to participate in a psychiatric evaluation and routine drug testing. Additionally, the embattled rapper is prohibited from owning or possessing firearms and must perform 120 hours of community service. He also must pay a $5,000 fine.

On April 24, Desiigner was charged with indecent exposure aboard an aircraft after he was caught in first-class with his penis fully exposed while pleasuring himself in full view of flight attendants during a Delta flight from Tokyo to the Minneapolis.

Following the incident, Desiigner released a statement that he would be getting professional help for his mental health.

The daytime talk show was set to return on Sept. 18.

Another daytime show has decided that it is not the right time to move forward with production. On Sunday, it was announced that The Talk has paused the premiere of the upcoming season, amid the Writers Guild of America strike.

The news was confirmed by CBS in a statement to ET.

"The Talk is pausing its season premiere scheduled for September 18. We will continue to evaluate plans for a new launch date," the statement read.

The daytime show, hosted by Amanda Kloots, Akbar Gbajabiamila, Sheryl Underwood, Natalie Morales and Jerry O’Connell was set to return for season 14 on Sept. 18. In support of the strike, the show went dark in May.

As of Sunday, the show was set to move forward with production of the new season. Last Wednesday, dozens of Writers Guild members protested a rehearsal show.

"The reality is that bringing a show back without your writers is an attempt to devalue our labor and devalue the work that we do," WGA captain Chris Hazzard told The Hollywood Reporter. "And there's no way to make a show without writing. So whether that's picking guests or talking about who's going to speak when or doing pre-interviews to update your hosts about what the topic is going to be, all of that is writing. And so that work being done is scabbing and we will be out here with a picket sign until it stops."

The Talk's decision comes on the same day that Drew Barrymore announced her decision to pause the return of The Drew Barrymore Show, amid backlash.

On Sunday, the 48-year-old host took to Instagram to share the message with her followers.

"I have listened to everyone, and I am making the decision to pause the show’s premiere until the strike is over," the host of the daytime program wrote as a caption next to a picture of the same message. "I have no words to express my deepest apologies to anyone I have hurt and, of course, to our incredible team who works on the show and has made it what it is today. We really tried to find our way forward. And I truly hope for a resolution for the entire industry very soon."

In a statement to ET, a spokesperson from CBS Media Ventures, which produces The Drew Barrymore Show, read, "We support Drew’s decision to pause the show’s return and understand how complex and difficult this process has been for her."

Barrymore's message came after she took to Instagram on Friday, in a since-deleted emotional video, defending her choice to move forward with her show.

At the time, Barrymore shared that she still had plans to move forward with the premiere.

"I believe there is nothing I can do or say in this moment to make it OK," she said, alluding to the backlash she received for her decision to resume production. "I wanted to own a decision so that it wasn't a PR-protected situation and I would just take full responsibility for my actions. I know there's just nothing I can do that will make this OK for those it is not OK with. I fully accept that. I fully understand that."

The host reassured her followers and fans that she would be in compliance with all of the rules.

"We aren't going to break rules and we are going to be in compliance," she said. "I wanted to do this because, as I said, this is bigger than me and there are other people's jobs on the line," she said. "Since launching live in a pandemic, I just wanted to make a show that was there for people in sensitive times. I weighed the scales and I thought, 'If we could go on during a global pandemic, and everything that the world has experienced through 2020, why would this sideline us?'"

Bill Maher said his show, Real Time With Bill Maher, would likewise return without writers. The Jennifer Hudson Show and Sherri, hosted by Sherri Shepherd, are reportedly returning to production for season premieres in the coming weeks.

cross-posted from: https://feddit.uk/post/2450775

Hudson's is the latest daytime show to halt production, following similar announcements from The Drew Barrymore Show and The Talk.

The Jennifer Hudson Show has paused production and pushed back its return to the air following backlash from the writers' strike, EW has learned.

The EGOT's daytime talk show was set to premiere its newest season on Monday, Sept. 18, but that was before Drew Barrymore attempted to cross the picket line.

Barrymore had announced her decision to resume her eponymous talk show on Sept. 18 in spite of the Writer's Guild of America strike, now in its 18th week. The Never Been Kissed actress faced a heap of criticism for the move, leading her to pause her show's return until the resolution of the strike.

"I have no words to express my deepest apologies to anyone I have hurt and, of course, to our incredible team who works on the show and has made it what it is today," Barrymore wrote on social media earlier today.

Shortly after that news, The Talk followed suit, pausing its season premiere, which was also set for Sept. 18. A rep for CBS told EW the network would "continue to evaluate plans for a new launch date."

Since the strikes began, other daytime talk shows, including The View, Tamron Hall, and Live With Kelly and Mark, have been filming new episodes. The Sherri Shepherd Show is currently scheduled to premiere its new season as planned on Monday.

After more than two months of picketing, the WGA writers were joined by SAG-AFTRA actors in striking against the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), bringing Hollywood to heel. While SAG card-carrying performers can technically still appear on talk shows, they can't promote any work distributed, produced, or financed by AMPTP studios or streaming platforms.

The Grammy-winning songstress has been dating sports agent Rich Paul for two years.

Adele gave fans something to talk about during her Saturday night show in Las Vegas.

The “Easy On Me” singer left people wondering if she’d gotten hitched after she referred to her boyfriend Rich Paul as her “husband” while working the crowd at her sold-out Caesars Palace residency.

In a TikTok video from the concert, Adele is seen trying to gently rebuff a swooning female fan who’d just asked for her hand in marriage.

“You can’t marry me,” she told the woman. “I’m straight, my love, and my husband’s here tonight.”

Asked if she’d give it a try anyway, the 16-time Grammy winner shook her head and told the fan: “No, I don’t want to try. I’m with Rich. You’re crazy, leave me alone.” (The woman seemed to react to this with good humor.)

Online, Adele fans were ready to celebrate Mrs. Rich Paul immediately.

“Her husband??? omgg Adele Paul???” one person wrote in a TikTok comment.

“No.stop. MOTHER IS MARRIED??” another wrote.

Neither the star nor her beau, a sports agent, have made any subsequent announcements. Representatives for Adele did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Adele and Paul’s romance was made public in summer 2021, after they were spotted together at game five of the NBA finals in Phoenix.

Though she’s largely kept private about the relationship, Adele told Rolling Stone that she and Paul have an “incredible, openhearted, and easiest” partnership.

After the “Hello” singer was spotted rocking a pear-shaped diamond on her left ring finger, she dismissed any speculation about an engagement, telling Elle magazine: “I just love high-end jewelry.”

Adele split with ex-husband Simon Konecki in 2019 after three years of marriage. They share a 10-year-old son, Angelo.

Drake used an old image of Halle Berry at the Kid’s Choice Awards to promote his latest duet with SZA, “Slime You Out.”

Drake, 36, dropped the cover for the new single via Instagram on Wednesday, September 13. “😳💚,” he captioned the post.

Drake had used a photo of Berry, now 57, when she had gotten slimed while sitting in the audience at the 2012 Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards. Drake added a “Parental Advisory Explicit Content” sticker to the bottom of the cover. SZA, 33, reposted the cover art onto her page later on Wednesday and the song dropped on Friday, September 15.

Hours later on Friday, Berry posted a cryptic Instagram quote. “Sometimes you have to be the bigger guy … even if you’re a woman!” the note read, featuring a tag to musician Beabadoobee’s (real name Beatrice Kristi Ilejay Laus) account. Berry captioned her post with a pointer-finger emoji.

In the comments section, one fan asked the Oscar winner for her “thoughts” about Drake using a photo of her to promote his single.

“Didn’t get my permission. That’s not cool. I thought better of him!” she replied. “Hence my post today. When people you admire disappoint you, you have to be the bigger person and move on!”

Berry later doubled down on her stance in a second comment, claiming that Drake did reach out to her first. “He asked me and I said NO that’s why,” when a social media user asked why she was upset in the first place. “Why ask if you intend to do what you want to do! That was the f–k you to me. Not cool. You get it?”

The rapper has not publicly addressed Berry’s claims.

“Slime You Out” is the first single on Drake’s new album, For All the Dogs. The LP — featuring an illustration of a dog with red eyes that was drawn by Drake’s 6-year-old son, Adonis — will be released next month. Previously scheduled to drop on September 22, Drake pushed back the release date on Friday, explaining that he is still in the process of completing For All the Dogs.

“OK, my dilemma I am faced with is either cancel shows to finish the album or I complete the mission and drop the album before the last show,” he wrote via Instagram Story. “I owe you all these memories we are building, and anywhere we have missed to date, we will be spinning back for sure.”

He concluded: “For All the Dogs [comes out on] October 6th. It’s only right.”

Drake’s drama with Berry is not the first time his music has sparked controversy. Ghanian musician Obrafour sued Drake for $10 million in April, claiming that he never approved the Canada native’s sample of “One Ohene (Remix)” on his “Calling My Name” track.

Obrafour, 47, released his song in 2003 and claimed in his lawsuit that he never responded to Drake’s email request to sample it, according to Business Insider. Drake has not publicly addressed the legal drama nor has the case been settled yet.

Lamar Odom is likely to see his car insurance bill go way up ... he crashed his Mercedes into two parked cars in an early morning accident.

A rep for Lamar tells TMZ ... Lamar was behind the wheel when he got into a car crash around 3 AM Monday in a residential area near his home.

We're told Lamar was driving home from a friend's place in Northridge when he dropped his phone inside his Mercedes, reached down to retrieve it, lost control and smashed into a pair of cars parked on the street.

Lamar's rep says his white Mercedes hit another white car, which bumped into another car parked in front of it.

Lamar's airbags deployed, and he wasn't injured and didn't need medical assistance ... though he was a little shaken up and his Mercedes is now mangled.

Cops were called but LAPD did not take a police report after responding to the scene. We're told officers spoke with Lamar, asking him if he had been drinking, to which Lamar said no and told cops about being sober and owning rehab facilities.

Cops did not perform a field sobriety test.

Lamar, we're told, then explained to LAPD how the accident happened ... and the owners of the impacted cars came out of their homes and Lamar gave them his insurance information.

Fortunately, we're told no one was inside the parked cars at the time of the crash ... though Lamar's Mercedes was towed and his security drove him home.

In the end, cops left after seeing everyone exchange information.

Teyana Taylor just confirmed what folks have long suspected about her and her husband, Iman Shumpert ... their relationship is over.

The singer officially broke the news Sunday, taking to IG with a lengthy statement. She writes, "Not too much on my bestie! In all fairness, Iman and I are separated and have been for a while. To be 1000% clear, 'infidelity' ain’t one of the reasons for our departure."

She adds, "We are still the best of friends, great business partners and are one hell of a team when it comes to co-parenting our 2 beautiful children. Most importantly we are FAMILY & in the 10yrs together, 7yrs married we ain’t ever played with or about THAT."

Teyana goes on to explain that the reason she's kept this under wraps is because she's private ... and didn't feel like it was anyone's business -- a decision she's happy with as she and Iman have been able to navigate this on their terms without so much noise.

She finishes by saying ... "The only reason I’m even sharing THIS part of the chat is because the narratives are getting a little out of hand & it’s unfair to all parties involved. I hope this provided some clarity for y’all. Okay AunTey taking y’all back out the chat bye!"

Teyana and Iman have been together for quite a while now -- they got hitched in 2016, and share two children together. Their bedroom biz has also been the subject of much intrigue.

Hudson's is the latest daytime show to halt production, following similar announcements from The Drew Barrymore Show and The Talk.

The Jennifer Hudson Show has paused production and pushed back its return to the air following backlash from the writers' strike, EW has learned.

The EGOT's daytime talk show was set to premiere its newest season on Monday, Sept. 18, but that was before Drew Barrymore attempted to cross the picket line.

Barrymore had announced her decision to resume her eponymous talk show on Sept. 18 in spite of the Writer's Guild of America strike, now in its 18th week. The Never Been Kissed actress faced a heap of criticism for the move, leading her to pause her show's return until the resolution of the strike.

"I have no words to express my deepest apologies to anyone I have hurt and, of course, to our incredible team who works on the show and has made it what it is today," Barrymore wrote on social media earlier today.

Shortly after that news, The Talk followed suit, pausing its season premiere, which was also set for Sept. 18. A rep for CBS told EW the network would "continue to evaluate plans for a new launch date."

Since the strikes began, other daytime talk shows, including The View, Tamron Hall, and Live With Kelly and Mark, have been filming new episodes. The Sherri Shepherd Show is currently scheduled to premiere its new season as planned on Monday.

After more than two months of picketing, the WGA writers were joined by SAG-AFTRA actors in striking against the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), bringing Hollywood to heel. While SAG card-carrying performers can technically still appear on talk shows, they can't promote any work distributed, produced, or financed by AMPTP studios or streaming platforms.

"I have listened to everyone, and I am making the decision to pause the show's premiere until the strike is over."

Drew Barrymore is officially hitting "pause" on production of her daytime talk show.

After days of enduring backlash surrounding her decision to resume The Drew Barrymore Show amid the writers' and actors' strikes, the host announced that she will no longer move forward with new episodes until the strikes end.

"I have listened to everyone, and I am making the decision to pause the show's premiere until the strike is over," Barrymore wrote on social media Sunday. "I have no words to express my deepest apologies to anyone I have hurt and, of course, to our incredible team who works on the show and has made it what it is today."

She added, "We really tried to find our way forward. And I truly hope for a resolution for the entire industry very soon."

Barrymore announced plans last week for her Daytime Emmy–winning show to resume production without its three Writers Guild of America writers who, along with the rest of their union, have been on strike since May, demanding higher wages, clearer contract provisions, and more.

The star quickly became the center of controversy, earning criticism from striking members of the WGA and the Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA), in addition to others of the industry. Following her decision, the National Book Foundation also rescinded its invitation for Barrymore to host its annual awards event.

Her show resumed filming last week as picketers protested the choice outside the CBS Broadcast Center in New York. Some audience members said they were escorted out of tapings for wearing WGA-branded pins. A spokesperson for the show told EW in a statement that Barrymore was "completely unaware of the incident" and that their team is "in the process of reaching out to the affected audience members to offer them new tickets."

Barrymore initially defended her decision in a now-removed video she posted on Friday, explaining, "This is bigger than me and there other peoples' jobs on the line."

She continued, "I weighed the scales and I thought if we could go on during a global pandemic and everything that the world experienced through 2020, why would this sideline us? I just wanted to just put one foot in front of the other and make a show that's there for people regardless of anything else that's happening in the world."

Barrymore, a member of SAG-AFTRA, insisted that the show's return was "in compliance with not discussing or promoting film and television that is struck of any kind," according to strike rules. When season 4 was first announced, a CBS spokesperson confirmed to EW that the series would "not be performing any writing work covered by the WGA strike."

While Barrymore herself was not in violation as the series' host — daytime talk shows fall under a separate contract, the Network Television Code contract — resuming production meant that it left its writers behind. As the WGA-East announced on social media, "The [Drew Barrymore Show] is a WGA-covered, struck show that is planning to return without its writers… Any writing on The Drew Barrymore Show is in violation of WGA strike rules."

Cristina Kinon, a writer for the show, told The Daily Beast that she was disappointed to see Barrymore resume production on the series without its writing team. "It is frustrating," she said, "because it will prolong the strike, and we just want it to end."

When news broke that the series was coming back for a fourth season, CBS issued a statement to EW. "While our show has been largely an unscripted talk show from the beginning, the new shows we are producing this season will be completely unscripted until the strike ends," it read in part. "No one on our staff will fill a writing position. If you watch the show, it is obvious that Drew has always brought raw, unfiltered, spontaneous, open, and honest conversations to her viewers, and that will continue. The show also moves forward with important consideration to our staff and crew comprised of over 150 people, as well as our loyal viewers. We fully support Drew and her entire team 100 percent."

The show was set to return with new episodes on Monday, Sept. 18.