Awards
Why isn’t Drew Barrymore hosting the 2023 MTV Movie & TV Awards
The 2023 MTV Movie & TV Awards will be without a host after Drew Barrymore bowed out in support of the Writers’ strike
Drew Barrymore is showing solidarity with striking members of the Writers Guild of America after stepping down from hosting the 2023 MTV Movie & TV Awards.
The news comes just three days before the awards show are set to take place, with Variety reporting the actress will no longer host the show.
Barrymore has already agreed to host the awards show in 2024, and she is expected to appear in pre-recorded segments during this year’s broadcast.
Barrymore’s statement
“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,” Barrymore said in a statement.
“Everything we celebrate and honor about movies and television is born out of their creation. And until a solution is reached, I am choosing to wait but I’ll be watching from home and hope you will join me. I thank MTV, who has truly been some of the best partners I have ever worked with.
“And I can’t wait to be a part of this next year, when I can truly celebrate everything that MTV has created, which is a show that allows fans to choose who the awards go to and is truly inclusive.”
Where this leaves MTV
The news comes after MTV heavily promoted Barrymore, who’s daytime talk show received seven Daytime Emmy nominations last week, with several on-air promotional spots.
This marks the first time in the MTV Movie & TV Awards’ 31-year history that it will be without a host, with Variety reporting that the red carpet portion has also been canceled.
The outlet adds that programming for the ceremony is “still evolving day by day” as MTV tries to plan out which of its scheduled presenters, nominees and guests will actually be in attendance.
“So [Barrymore is] not going to be with us live in the house for the show and we will essentially be going hostless,” executive producer Bruce Gillmer told Variety.
“The silver lining in all of this is that we really formed a partnership almost a family-like atmosphere. So we see this as a shift in direction, but also a pause for the initial plan, which we’ve all agreed and she’s accepted to continue as our host in 2024.”
The 2023 MTV Movie & TV Awards are scheduled for Sunday, May 7 at 8 p.m. from Barker Hangar in Los Angeles.