It was a touching exchange.
Oprah Winfrey revealed she actually felt “comforted” by talk show host Drew Barrymore, who drew online criticism Tuesday after the “Charlie’s Angels” actress was spotted caressing Winfrey’s arm during an interview.
“I was actually comforted by the stroking of the arm,” Winfrey, 69, told TMZ on Wednesday. “I was not uncomfortable at all.”
The media mogul said that despite having “never seen [Barrymore] do that,” she nevertheless “thought it was really great.”
“Drew is terrific, and I love that she is always herself,” the “Color Purple” star continued.
Winfrey later jokingly told the outlet that her longtime partner, Stedman Graham, needed to follow Barrymore’s example.
“I went home and told Stedman, ‘You’ve gotta stroke my arm,’ ” the “Selma” actress laughed. “‘Stedman, I need to be stroked on the arm.’”
Barrymore’s awkward interaction with Winfrey took place while the “Never Been Kissed” star, 46, was talking to “The Butler” actress about working with studio audiences.
At one point, Barrymore latched onto the 18-time Daytime Emmy winner and began rubbing her arm up and down.
The “50 First Dates” actress eventually let Winfrey go after she began gesticulating with both hands.
Several internet trolls lambasted the “Music and Lyrics” star for the “cringey” behavior, claiming that Winfrey purposefully shifted her posture away from Barrymore in a bid to escape.
“Oprah’s body language was so clear she wanted her hand back,” one Instagram user said on a clip of the interaction.
“Drew, everyone doesn’t want their hands held boo,” a second person stated.
“I wish Drew would stop touching people. It was like this with Dolly too,” stated a third user.
One user commented that someone needed to give the “E.T.” star “the personal space talk.”
“Why is she so touchy feely it’s very uncomfortable to watch,” a fourth person chastised.
Several die-hard Barrymore fans came to her defense, however.
“This is the most Drew Barrymore thing ever,” one person commented.
“I was in the audience that day and Drew’s nature was tender and caring,” a second fan claimed. “I didn’t get weird vibes at all. Oprah seemed very receptive and their relationship has gone back a very long time.”
“If Oprah didn’t want her hand held she would have just said so,” defended a third fan. “Plus it’s not like this is some new ‘thing’ of Drew’s, guests know what to expect coming on her show.”
In the past, Barrymore has poked fun at her own interview style after posting a bunch of memes on her Instagram joking that she loves to get physically close with her guests.
Source link
