You’ve seen the clip. It was everywhere. Drew Barrymore is leaning in, practically merging souls with Martha Stewart on a talk show couch, and Martha—ever the queen of boundaries—literally shoves her away. The internet, being the internet, immediately lost its collective mind. "Martha hates her!" "Drew is so creepy!" "The second-hand embarrassment is killing me!"
Honestly? It wasn't that deep.
The whole thing happened during a November 2024 episode of The Drew Barrymore Show. Martha was there to promote her 100th cookbook, Martha: The Cookbook. Things were going fine until Drew, in her signature "I need to be inside your personal space to hear your heartbeat" style, asked Martha what makes her feel "soft and gooey" inside.
Martha looked like she’d just been asked to explain quantum physics to a zucchini. She paused, probably wondering if "soft and gooey" was a technical term for a brownie texture she’d missed in her 100 books. Finally, she deadpanned: "Treatment."
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As Martha tried to explain that she likes being "treated like a lady," Drew did what Drew does. She scooted closer. She started stroking Martha’s arm. She began petting her back. It was a lot of physical contact for a woman who once did a stint in Alderson Federal Prison and has spent decades cultivating an image of cool, calculated perfection.
Martha didn't just sit there. She looked at the audience, gave a playful little smirk, and told Drew: "You’re the wrong gender."
Then came the push.
It wasn't a "get away from me, you monster" shove. It was a "stop petted me like a golden retriever" nudge. Drew, being the physical comedian she is, hammed it up and fell dramatically backward onto the sofa. The audience roared. It was classic daytime TV. But because we live in a world where every micro-expression is analyzed by armchair body language experts, the narrative quickly became "Martha Stewart Pushes Handsy Drew Barrymore Away."
Why the Internet Totally Misunderstood the Vibe
People love a celebrity feud. They especially love the idea of a "proper" legend like Martha Stewart putting a "quirky" star like Drew Barrymore in her place. But if you actually watch the full segment, the tension wasn't hostile—it was just two diametrically opposed personalities clashing for entertainment.
Martha Stewart is Polish. She grew up in a house where, as she admitted in her 2024 Netflix documentary Martha, there wasn't a lot of "mushy" affection. She’s a "don't touch the merchandise" kind of person.
Drew Barrymore? She's basically a human weighted blanket.
She’s been criticized for this before. Remember when she held Oprah’s hands for like ten straight minutes? Or when she knelt in front of guests? People call it "creepy" or "performative," but Drew has been pretty open about why she does it. She’s single, she’s affectionate, and she genuinely likes the "transfer of spirit," as she calls it.
The disconnect is real, but it isn't "beef."
What Happened Behind the Scenes
Months after the clip went viral, Drew finally cleared the air. She went on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen in February 2025 and basically told everyone to calm down.
"I think she was just teasing," Drew told Andy. She admitted that when she first met Martha years ago, she actually feared the lifestyle mogul didn't like her. "I think I broke through," she added. "She doesn’t dislike me!"
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Then, in September 2025, Martha came back on Drew’s show. They didn't ignore the elephant in the room. They leaned right into it.
"People thought that we had beef," Drew said, looking surprised.
"Oh, I just don't like to be petted on television," Martha replied.
Short. Direct. Martha.
She even joked to the audience, "She's a very cozy girl, don't you think? I'm not so cozy." Basically, Martha Stewart joked about Drew Barrymore's touchy-feely interview style to her face, and Drew just laughed it off. No lawyers, no publicists, just two wealthy women talking about personal space.
The Reality of Drew’s "Proximity Problem"
Let's be real: Drew Barrymore has a boundary issue. She knows it. We know it. Even her producers know it.
She actually got "focus-grouped" on this. When her show first launched, the feedback was apparently "awful." People found the touching off-putting. She vowed to try and maintain more distance in 2025, but she’s the first to admit she’s failing at it.
"I can't actually control it," she confessed to Andy Cohen.
It’s a weirdly polarizing thing. For some viewers, her warmth is the only reason they watch. It feels authentic in a sea of sterile, scripted late-night segments. For others, it’s a violation of the social contract. Martha Stewart just happened to be the one guest with enough "IDGAF" energy to actually push back—literally.
Actionable Insights: Lessons in Boundaries from Martha and Drew
While this seems like just another piece of celebrity fluff, there’s actually a decent lesson here about social dynamics. If you're someone who—like Drew—leads with affection, or someone who—like Martha—values a three-foot "no-fly zone," here’s how to handle it:
- Read the Room, Not the Script: Martha’s body language was screaming "back off" long before the shove. If someone stiffens up or stops making eye contact when you touch their arm, take the hint.
- The Power of the Joke: Martha’s "wrong gender" quip was a masterclass in setting a boundary without ruining the mood. If someone is making you uncomfortable, humor is often the best "exit ramp" to de-escalate the situation.
- Own Your Style: Drew doesn't apologize for who she is, but she does acknowledge that it’s not for everyone. Being authentic is great, but being self-aware is better.
- Don't Believe the "Feud" Hype: Most of the time, what we see on TV is a refined version of two people just trying to get through a work day. Just because someone doesn't want to be "petted" doesn't mean they hate the person doing the petting.
The bottom line? Martha Stewart is still Martha Stewart. Drew Barrymore is still Drew Barrymore. And if you ever find yourself sitting on a couch next to Martha, maybe just keep your hands in your lap and talk about the pie.