Oprah ‘not a bit’ uncomfortable with Drew Barrymore getting handsy during interview: ‘I was actually comforted by the stroking of the arm’
Oprah Winfrey says she wasn’t bothered by Drew Barrymore’s cavalier behavior during an interview with her earlier this week and is calling on her longtime partner Stedman Graham to take notice.
Oprah, 69, said she was “not the least bit” embarrassed by Barrymore’s behavior during the performance, which was criticized by viewers on social media.
“It was actually the stroking of my arm that comforted me,” the TV icon said. TMZ Tuesday when she was at the Empire State Building promoting the movie “The Color Purple.”
The media mogul joked that she hoped Graham, 72, would follow suit after Barrymore, 48, was seen repeatedly stroking Oprah’s hand during the conversation.
“I came home and told Stedman you should pat my hand. “‘Stedman, I need a pat on the arm,’ that’s so comforting,” the veteran broadcaster said.
Oprah Winfrey, 69, says she wasn’t at all bothered by Drew Barrymore’s cavalier behavior during an interview with her earlier this week when she spoke to TMZ on Tuesday while she was at the Empire State Building promoting the movie “The Color Purple.”
Oprah said she didn’t like Barrymore’s behavior “one bit” during the speech, which was criticized by viewers on social media.
The ardent TV presenter spoke about her state of mind after the conversation.
“I wasn’t embarrassed at all,” Oprah said. “I’ve never seen her do it, but I thought it was cute, that’s what I thought; I thought that was really cool, thanks for asking.
The Mississippi-born Kosciuszko star, who will celebrate her 70th birthday next month, praised Barrymore, who found herself at the center of controversy three months ago when she decided to continue her talk show amid a writers’ strike.
Oprah said, “Drew, she’s amazing and I love that she’s always herself, I love that.”
On the show, Barrymore praised Oprah as a role model for her as a talk show host, especially her tendency to chat with the audience to create chemistry on the show.
Oprah said Barrymore did a wonderful job hosting the show amid the coronavirus pandemic, with no studio audience present for the show.
“That’s why it’s so hard to do it without an audience, and I commended you for doing it without an audience because it’s almost… because you’re not getting their energy,” Oprah said.
The media mogul joked that she hoped her longtime partner Stedman Graham, 72, would follow suit after Barrymore repeatedly stroked Oprah’s hand during the conversation. Pictured in Atlanta in 2019.
Barrymore, 48, was seen repeatedly stroking Oprah’s hand during the conversation.
On the show, Barrymore praised Oprah as a role model for her as a talk show host, especially her tendency to chat with the audience to create chemistry for the show.
Oprah said of Barrymore: “Drew, she’s amazing and I love that she’s always herself, I love that.”
Winfrey said of Barrymore’s behavior in the chat: “I didn’t feel awkward at all.”
A number of commenters chimed in with support in the comments section of the clip Barrymore posted of the interview on her show’s Instagram page and on her personal page.
One user said they wished Barrymore would “stop touching people,” saying she exhibited similar behavior during a recent chat with Dolly Parton.
A number of commenters chimed in with support in the comments section of the clip Barrymore posted of the interview on her show’s Instagram page and on her personal page.
“Drew, everyone doesn’t want to be held,” one user said, while another added that “someone needs to talk to Drew about personal space.”
One user asked Barrymore, “Why is she so touchy-feely and so uncomfortable to look at,” while another said, “Holding and petting is beyond my capabilities.”
Another user said Oprah’s “body language was so clear she wanted her hand back.”
One user said they wished Barrymore would “stop touching people,” saying she exhibited similar behavior during a recent conversation with Dolly Parton.