Actress Drew Barrymore addressed the widely circulated November 2024 interaction with Martha Stewart during a Wednesday, February 5, 2025 appearance on Bravo’s “Watch What Happens Live,” offering new context about their relationship and the talk show moment that generated millions of social media impressions.
“I think she was just teasing,” Barrymore told host Andy Cohen about the exchange. “I think the internet just misunderstood the moment and ran with it, because when I first was getting to know her, I was like, I don’t think she likes me, but I think I broke through. She doesn’t dislike me!”
The original interaction occurred during a segment exploring Stewart’s softer side on “The Drew Barrymore Show.” As Barrymore began caressing Stewart’s back and arm, the 83-year-old lifestyle expert pushed her away, stating, “You’re the wrong gender.” Barrymore leaned back on the studio couch with an exaggerated gesture and commented that, given the current state of her experiences with men, she wasn’t entirely sure about them anymore, hinting at her evolving perspective on relationships.
The moment sparked intense debate across social media platform X. “This is extremely predatory, if a man did this it would be an uproar,” one user wrote. Others echoed similar concerns, with comments like “Drew is very overriding with all her touchy feely stuff” and “Personally, I find her interview style weird as hell honestly but hey.”
Some users approached the moment with humor, with one noting, “Martha has served some time in prison, so naturally she went into yard brawl mode with Drew up in her space like that, lol.” Another quipped, “Martha is as cuddly as a cactus 😅.”
Others defended the interaction, suggesting both parties were in on the joke. “Come on people, I think Martha was in on it. They’re playing,” one user wrote, while another simply stated, “It was a joke.”
During her appearance with Cohen, Barrymore opened up about her distinctive interviewing style, focusing on her tendency to sit very close to her guests. She admitted it wasn’t something she could easily control and described the early feedback from focus groups as disastrous, with viewers expressing discomfort over her approach. In response, the show’s producers provided her with specific guidance on maintaining appropriate boundaries.
The Stewart exchange reignited discussions about a December 2023 interview where Barrymore held Oprah Winfrey’s hand and stroked her arm, leading to mixed viewer reactions. However, Winfrey later clarified that she was not uncomfortable during the interaction. She found Barrymore’s gesture endearing and comforting and praised Barrymore for being authentic to herself.
Recent ratings data reveals that “The Drew Barrymore Show” experienced a 19% increase in viewership among the important ‘adults 18-49’ market over the 2023-2024 season, and a 25% increase in all ages, with particularly strong performance in major markets. According to syndication data, the program averages 2.5 million daily viewers across all platforms.
The show’s success has led to expanded distribution, with recent agreements adding the program to 15 new markets for the 2024-25 season. The expansion makes “The Drew Barrymore Show” available in 98% of U.S. television households.