Andy Stewart: What Most People Get Wrong About Martha’s Ex

Honestly, if you only know Andrew Stewart as the man who broke Martha Stewart’s heart in a messy, 1990s tabloid divorce, you're missing about eighty percent of the story. Most people see him as a footnote in the "Lifestyle Queen" saga. A ghost from Turkey Hill. But Andy—as his friends call him—was actually the engine behind the very first Martha Stewart book.

He wasn't just some guy standing in the background of a copper-pot-filled kitchen. He was a powerhouse publisher who basically handed Martha the keys to her empire. And yet, for over thirty years, he’s stayed almost entirely silent while Martha’s brand became a global superpower.

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That silence broke recently. It wasn't pretty.

With the release of the 2024 Netflix documentary Martha, the old wounds from the Stewart marriage were ripped wide open again. Martha called him out for cheating. He (and his current wife) fired back, calling the marriage "abusive." It’s a lot of drama for a guy who just wants to take photos of birds in Vermont.

The Publishing Pro Who Built a Monster

Before the divorces and the court orders, Andy Stewart was a high-flying intellectual. He met Martha on a blind date when he was a 23-year-old Yale Law student and she was a 19-year-old model at Barnard. They married in 1961. They were young, ambitious, and, by all accounts, incredibly intense.

Andy didn't stick with law. He moved into the world of books, eventually becoming the president of Harry N. Abrams, Inc. This is a huge detail people gloss over. In 1977, he was releasing a book about gnomes—yes, Gnomes—and he hired Martha’s fledgling catering company to handle the release party.

At that party, he introduced her to Alan Mirken, the head of Crown Publishing. Mirken saw her food, saw her style, and said, "You should write a book." That book was Entertaining. Without Andy’s career in publishing, Martha might have just been the best caterer in Connecticut instead of a billionaire.

What Really Happened at Turkey Hill?

The 1805 farmhouse known as Turkey Hill is legendary. It’s where the "Martha Stewart" aesthetic was born. But for Andy, it sounds like it was a gilded cage. He’s admitted in past interviews with People that they did a "poor job" as parents to their daughter, Alexis. They were too busy. Too obsessed with the "mythological" perfection of the house.

He once said it wasn't a home; it was a project.

The split in 1987 was brutal. Andy didn't just move out; he reportedly got a court order to keep Martha from talking to him. Imagine being married for 26 years and then needing a legal document just to get some peace and quiet. He eventually moved on with Robyn Fairclough—who, in a twist fit for a soap opera, was Martha’s former assistant.

A New Life Away From the Cameras

Andy is now 80-ish and living a life that is the polar opposite of the Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia machine. He’s currently married to Shyla Nelson Stewart. They’ve been together for a long time—since 2016 officially, but their bond goes back further. Shyla is the CEO of Fieldstone Publishing, and they live a quiet, nature-focused life between Pasadena, California, and Lake Champlain in Vermont.

If you look at his bio at Fieldstone, he’s "Publisher Emeritus." He spends his time as an "avocational naturalist." Basically, he takes pictures of the Earth and hangs out with his five children and several grandchildren.

The 2024 Documentary Blow-up

The peace was shattered when the Martha trailer hit Netflix. Martha didn't hold back, advising young women that if a husband cheats, he’s a "piece of s***" and they should leave. She also admitted she cheated too, but claimed Andy didn't know (though the director, R.J. Cutler, later said Andy definitely did).

Shyla Nelson Stewart didn't take this lying down. She posted a scathing response on Facebook, co-signed by Andy. She described their current marriage as "joy-filled" and "purpose-led," specifically contrasting it against what she called Andy’s "dark chapters"—meaning his marriage to Martha.

She used the word "abusive." That's a heavy word to throw at a national treasure.

It’s clear that even after nearly four decades apart, there is zero "conscious uncoupling" happening here. They haven't spoken in over 20 years. Martha told People in 2020 that the lack of communication is "painful," but for Andy, it seems like a survival tactic.

Why Andy Stewart Still Matters

You can't talk about the history of American lifestyle branding without Andy. He provided the professional network. He provided the intellectual sounding board. He also provided the conflict that, in some weird way, fueled Martha's drive to succeed on her own.

He represents the side of the story that doesn't get a magazine cover. He’s the guy who walked away from the fame, the money, and the "perfection" to find a life that was actually, well, livable.

Actionable Takeaways from the Stewart Saga

Looking at Andy Stewart’s life gives us a few reality checks that apply even if you aren't a publishing mogul:

• Professional networks are everything: Martha’s big break came from her husband’s work event. Don't underestimate the power of the "plus-one" introduction.
• The "Perfect Home" Trap: Both Andy and Alexis Stewart have been vocal about how the obsession with a perfect aesthetic ruined the actual family life. Prioritize the people over the paint colors.
• Boundaries are okay: If a relationship is truly toxic, the "no-contact" rule—even if it requires a court order—is sometimes the only way to heal.
• There is life after the "Big Name": Andy found success and a massive blended family after leaving one of the most famous women in the world. Your first chapter doesn't have to be your whole book.

Andy Stewart might always be "the ex," but in the quiet woods of Vermont, he seems perfectly fine with that. He's moved from being the man behind the brand to a man who simply enjoys the view.

If you're following the ongoing fallout from the documentary, keep an eye on Fieldstone Publishing’s updates or Shyla Nelson Stewart's public statements. While Andy rarely speaks to the press himself, his wife has made it clear they aren't afraid to defend his legacy when the "Lifestyle Queen" starts relitigating the past.

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To get a fuller picture of the family dynamic, you might want to look into Alexis Stewart’s book, Whateverland, which mirrors many of Andy’s complaints about the pressures of living in a "mythological" home. It provides the third-party perspective that fills the gaps between Martha’s ambition and Andy’s retreat.