Actress and talk show host Drew Barrymore found herself at the center of a social media storm on Tuesday, after clips of her interview with Oprah Winfrey went viral. The 48-year-old host was heavily criticized for her “cringeworthy” behavior towards Winfrey, which included holding her hand and caressing her arm.
The moment occurred during an episode of “The Drew Barrymore Show,” in which the two discussed the importance of having a live studio audience for daytime talk shows. As they sat next to each other, Barrymore reached out to hold Winfrey’s hand and then proceeded to stroke her arm. While Winfrey appeared to be uncomfortable with the touch, Barrymore continued to hold on tight.
Fans took to social media, expressing their discomfort and disapproval of Barrymore’s actions. One account posted, “You need to dial the touchy-feely neediness back like 10-fold,” while another wrote, “Drew is just too creepy and needy.” Many also noted that Winfrey seemed to be trying to move her hand away and shift her body, which only added to the awkwardness of the situation.
The clip sparked a heated debate on social media, with some defending Barrymore and arguing that she was simply being friendly and affectionate. However, others took issue with her behavior, pointing out that it was inappropriate and made Winfrey visibly uncomfortable. “What is Drew Barrymore’s deal? And why is she sitting here stroking Oprah on her talk show!?” asked one Twitter user.
#WATCH: Drew Barrymore caresses Oprah and fans are not ok: ‘Past my boundary’
The 48-year-old “Mad Love” alum is facing criticism after holding onto Oprah Winfrey’s hand for dear life in a cringy clip making its way around the internet pic.twitter.com/l0Me2PLmmu
— Unlimited L’s (@unlimited_ls) December 12, 2023
In response to the controversy, TMZ caught up with Winfrey and asked for her thoughts on the interview. The former talk show host reassured fans that she was not uncomfortable with Barrymore’s actions, stating that she was “actually comforted by the stroking of the arm.” She even joked that she had told her longtime partner, Stedman Graham, to start stroking her arm in the same way.
Winfrey also acknowledged that she had never seen Barrymore behave this way before, but that she found it “endearing.” She also expressed her admiration for Barrymore, calling her a “great interviewer” and saying that she handles her guests with ease and sensitivity.
This is not the first time Barrymore has faced criticism for her interviewing style. In March, the actress faced backlash when she knelt down with trans-identifying male influencer Dylan Mulvaney during an interview. Many accused her of exploiting Mulvaney’s gender identity for views and ratings.
Despite the backlash, it seems that Barrymore’s awkward moment with Winfrey will not tarnish their friendship. Winfrey’s support for Barrymore’s actions has helped to diffuse the situation, and we can only hope that the two will continue to share a positive and strong bond.
