Comedian Drew Carey explains why he paid the meal tabs for striking writers in 2023: 'It's the right thing to do'

Comedian Drew Carey garnered a large round of applause during the Writers Guild Awards on Sunday, where he informed the audience he had covered the meal tabs at Bob's Big Boy and Swingers for striking writers last summer, according to Deadline Hollywood.

The writers' strike lasted five months in 2023, with scribes demanding "increased minimum compensation in all areas of media, increased residuals, appropriate TV series-writing compensation from pre- to postproduction, increased contributions to pension and health plans, the strengthening of professional standards and the overall protections for writers," per Vulture.

Carey took the stage with a plate full of food in his hand, explaining that he provided meals to striking writers because "it's the right thing to do." However, he did address his initial shock when the bills starting rolling in.

“I didn’t know it was going to cost me so much money,” Carey said to the crowd. “The last [strike] it was like, I think the total bill was like $67,000. I thought it was going to be about the same thing. But then some of you decided, ‘Oh yeah, I’m going to get a shake and some dessert.'"

Carey went on to mention that his accountant got in touch with him during the strike and asked the actor if there "is any way we can dial this back?" His publicist expressed similar concerns, but Carey refused to back down, saying, "Nope, I already said I would. It's the right thing to do."

“I really appreciate all the thanks and stuff,” Carey continued. “I don’t think I should get that much credit for doing the right thing … you writers, '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, all the credit you get. Thank you so much for everything you do. God bless all of you.”

Carey reportedly stayed quiet about paying for the writers' meals throughout the strike, but there are some estimates that he ultimately paid out around $500,000 for meals at Bob's Big Boy alone, per Deadline.

In September 2023, Carey posted to X: "I deeply appreciate all the love and thanks. It as with every dime. But if you really want to thank someone for those meals, thank Bruce Helford and all the Drew Carey Show writers. They helped make me rich enough to afford it, No writers, no $. Simple as that[.]"