Why is the 2023 MTV Movie & TV Awards live show canceled?

As the 2023 MTV Movie & TV Awards approaches, the ongoing Writers Guild of America strike is prompting organizers to pull a live airing of the award show, instead opting to air a pre-recorded special on Sunday, May 7.

The news comes just as Drew Barrymore announced she would no longer be hosting the award show, in solidarity with the striking writers.

A special will air in lieu of a live show

“As we carefully navigate how best to deliver the fan first awards’ show we envisioned that our team has worked so hard to create, we’re pivoting away from a live event that still enables us to produce a memorable night full of exclusive sneak peeks, irreverent categories our audience has come to expect and countless moments that will both surprise and delight as we honor the best of film and TV over the past year,” said Bruce Gillmer, the executive procure of the MTV Movie & TV Awards.

“The show may not look and feel the same as the one we originally planned, but the team is hard at work readying to put on another great show, giving fans a chance to celebrate all the film and TV this year,” Gillmer added.

Celebs dropping out in support of writers

Meanwhile, Barrymore has voiced her support for the writers and sympathizes with their demands.

“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.”

Variety has also reported that the red carpet portion of the event has been canceled, and a number of guests have also dropped out of the show, including Jamie Lee Curtis, who was set to present.

In an Instagram post, Curtis said: “I was GOING to wear something like THESE to THIS YEAR’S MTV movie awards but I’m not gonna be able to go and present because the @wgawest needs and deserves my support and I won’t cross their picket line.”

Gillmer also said that the new special was aiming to be “super respectful of the talents’ decisions to either be involved in pre tapes, show up or not show up, whatever they decide,” referring to those who have voiced their support for the writers.

The Writers Guild was planning to strike outside the MTV Movie & TV Awards

On Friday, the WGA announced that they were planning on picketing outside the MTV Movie & TV Awards, which was produced under a WGA contract, at Santa Monica’s Barker Hangar on Sunday.

Had the MTV Movie & TV Awards show not been canceled, guests would have had to cross a picket line in order to attend the live show.