Drew Carey reflects on his decision to pay for striking writers’ meals during the Writers Guild of America strike and how he almost lost his house. The 2023 WGA strike, which lasted 148 days from May 2 to September 27 and represented 11,500 screenwriters, was the second-longest labor stoppage in the union’s history. Drew Carey – the comedian and host best known for The Drew Carey Show, Whose Line Is It Anyway?, and The Price Is Right – made headlines when he decided to pay for WGA members’ meals during the entire duration of the strike.
Now, during an appearance at the Writers Guild of America awards ceremony (via The Hollywood Reporter), Carey reflected on his decision to pay for striking writers’ meals for the entirety of the work stoppage. Carey recalled conversations with his accountant and an agent who said, “You’re going to lose your house over this.” However, Carey made a commitment and wanted to see it through. Read his full comments below:
When the bills started piling up, my accountant called and was like, “Is there any way we can dial this back?” … It was the right thing to do… “You’re going to lose your house over this.” “Yeah, fine, I’ll lose my house.” Those are the real heroes of this whole strike. You writers — well not all of you, The Drew Carey Show writers — made me a fucking million. Everybody in this room makes some actor a million. And you deserve all the money you get.
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How Much Did Drew Carey Pay For Striking Writers’ Meals?
It Likely Cost Him Around $1 Million
Drew Carey made a similar commitment during the 2007-08 Writers Guild of America strike when he bought lunch for the striking writers, and the total bill came out to about $67,000. However, since the strike lasted for much longer in 2023, and for a few other reasons, such as inflation, the price was a lot heftier this time around. The comedian joked, “But some of you decided, ‘Oh yeah, I’m going to get a shake and dessert,’ as it was way more this time.”
During the onset of the strike in May 2023, Carey offered to cover the costs of meals, including tips, for card-carrying WGA members at two Los Angeles-area restaurants, Bob’s Big Boy in Burbank and Swingers on Beverly Boulevard. He promised to honor the pledge until the strike ended, and early on, reports suggested that Carey’s bill was averaging over $10,000 a week at Swingers alone. Later reports indicated that, over the course of the strike, Carey’s commitment likely cost him around $1 million in meals.
As the strike dragged on, Carey’s accountant started to get agitated and suggested that he “dial” back the pledge. However, Carey refused to change his position because he had made a commitment and “it was the right thing to do,” citing specifically The Drew Carey Show writers who made him millions of dollars. Drew Carey‘s unwavering commitment to supporting striking writers, even in the face of financial pressure, stands as a testament to his integrity and belief in doing what he feels is right.
Source: THR
