It was uncomfortable for many who watched a preview clip of Drew Barrymore’s Tuesday show, when she interviewed Oprah Winfrey and drew the media mogul close to her, holding Winfrey’s hand to her cheek and running her other hand up and down the media mogul’s arm.
But Winfrey insisted she was down with Barrymore’s PDA, telling TMZ she wasn’t a bit put off by what viewers thought was the idiosyncratic talk show host’s “cringey” and “invasive” lack of respect for people’s personal boundaries.
“Not a bit,” Winfrey said, when TMZ caught her as she was arriving at the Empire State Building in New York City. “I was actually comforted by the stroking of the arm.”
Winfrey also joked that she went home and told her longtime partner Stedman Graham that he needs to do some arm stroking. And while Winfrey acknowledged that she had never seen Barrymore get quite so physical with a guest, she also said: “I thought it was endearing. Drew’s terrific, and I love that she’s always herself.”
Alas, Barrymore being “herself” didn’t sit so well with many of the people posting comments on the clip of her exchange with Winfrey. “The Drew Barrymore Show” shared the clip on Instagram, perhaps knowing it would draw a heated response and attract attention for the show.
“It’s so off putting,” one person said on Instagram. “Not everyone wants to be touched and fondled. I can’t watch her show because most guests look uncomfortable.”
Barrymore cozied up to Winfrey while asking her about how she would spend time with her TV studio audiences before or after taping her famous talk show, which ran from 1986 to 2011.
“It is necessary,” Winfrey said, while Barrymore grasped her hand.
“It’s OK that it takes extra time?” Barrymore said, still stroking Winfrey’s arm.
When Winfrey assured her that a show’s “energy” depended on building a strong connection with the studio audience, Barrymore finally let go of her hand. She triumphantly gestured to her crew, indicating that they probably pressure her regularly to stop schmoozing so much with the audience, so that they can get on with the taping.
To some viewers, it appeared that Winfrey was trying to extricate herself from Barrymore’s grasp during the exchange.
“Oprah’s body language was so clear she wanted her hand back,” one person said, while another said, “The hand hold and the arm being caressed is past my boundary.”
Another person, who described herself as a Barrymore fan added: “Drew’s overly dramatic and too touchy-feely and gets in your face … and you can tell many guests don’t like it! She was all over Michelle Pfeiffer, and it was extremely cringeworthy to watch! Come on, it’s just too much at times and extremely nauseating and I have always liked her! It’s just become UGH.”
But others agreed with Winfrey that Barrymore was being “herself.” The former child star, who is a member of a legendary Hollywood family, is nonetheless “down to earth.” She’s also “touchy-feely,” and people who go on her show should expect some PDA, her fans said.
“If you don’t know this about Drew before you go on her show, then that’s your problem,” someone said. “She’s affectionate and cares deeply about people. It’s icky that you’re shaming her for expressing that without actually knowing how the other person feels.”
It was uncomfortable for many who watched a preview clip of Drew Barrymore’s Tuesday show, when she interviewed Oprah Winfrey and drew the media mogul close to her, holding Winfrey’s hand to her cheek and running her other hand up and down the media mogul’s arm.
But Winfrey insisted she was down with Barrymore’s PDA, telling TMZ she wasn’t a bit put off by what viewers thought was the idiosyncratic talk show host’s “cringey” and “invasive” lack of respect for people’s personal boundaries.
“Not a bit,” Winfrey said, when TMZ caught her as she was arriving at the Empire State Building in New York City. “I was actually comforted by the stroking of the arm.”
Winfrey also joked that she went home and told her longtime partner Stedman Graham that he needs to do some arm stroking. And while Winfrey acknowledged that she had never seen Barrymore get quite so physical with a guest, she also said: “I thought it was endearing. Drew’s terrific, and I love that she’s always herself.”
Alas, Barrymore being “herself” didn’t sit so well with many of the people posting comments on the clip of her exchange with Winfrey. “The Drew Barrymore Show” shared the clip on Instagram, perhaps knowing it would draw a heated response and attract attention for the show.
“It’s so off putting,” one person said on Instagram. “Not everyone wants to be touched and fondled. I can’t watch her show because most guests look uncomfortable.”
Barrymore cozied up to Winfrey while asking her about how she would spend time with her TV studio audiences before or after taping her famous talk show, which ran from 1986 to 2011.
“It is necessary,” Winfrey said, while Barrymore grasped her hand.
“It’s OK that it takes extra time?” Barrymore said, still stroking Winfrey’s arm.
When Winfrey assured her that a show’s “energy” depended on building a strong connection with the studio audience, Barrymore finally let go of her hand. She triumphantly gestured to her crew, indicating that they probably pressure her regularly to stop schmoozing so much with the audience, so that they can get on with the taping.
To some viewers, it appeared that Winfrey was trying to extricate herself from Barrymore’s grasp during the exchange.
“Oprah’s body language was so clear she wanted her hand back,” one person said, while another said, “The hand hold and the arm being caressed is past my boundary.”
Another person, who described herself as a Barrymore fan added: “Drew’s overly dramatic and too touchy-feely and gets in your face … and you can tell many guests don’t like it! She was all over Michelle Pfeiffer, and it was extremely cringeworthy to watch! Come on, it’s just too much at times and extremely nauseating and I have always liked her! It’s just become UGH.”
But others agreed with Winfrey that Barrymore was being “herself.” The former child star, who is a member of a legendary Hollywood family, is nonetheless “down to earth.” She’s also “touchy-feely,” and people who go on her show should expect some PDA, her fans said.
“If you don’t know this about Drew before you go on her show, then that’s your problem,” someone said. “She’s affectionate and cares deeply about people. It’s icky that you’re shaming her for expressing that without actually knowing how the other person feels.”