During a recent episode of her talk show, 'The Drew Barrymore Show,' Hollywood actress Drew Barrymore came under fire for her continuous touching of Oprah Winfrey, leaving viewers uneasy.
The 48-year-old star of '50 First Dates' has ventured into hosting her own talk show, which is distributed by CBS. In a recent episode, she welcomed none other than Oprah Winfrey, an iconic figure in American TV renowned for her successful run on the 'Oprah Winfrey Show' from 1986 to 2011.
While praising Winfrey for launching a daytime talk show amid the Covid pandemic, which prevented live studio audiences due to physical distancing measures, Barrymore's unique interviewing style, involving physical contact with guests, attracted attention.
Barrymore's Physical Approach
As Winfrey discussed her experiences with the audience outside of her show, Barrymore notably brought her hand to Winfrey's chin, squeezing it tightly. Expressing her newfound knowledge about Winfrey, Barrymore continued to maintain physical contact by holding Winfrey's hand throughout the interaction, proceeding to caress her arm.
"One thing I learned about you, because I didn't know this detail, was that you spent time with the audience outside of the show you were filming," Barrymore shared.
Winfrey acknowledged the importance of audience interaction, stating, "That's why it's so hard to do this without an audience because you're not getting their energy. It's their energy. It's their feedback. It's understanding if what you're saying is connected."
Viewer Discomfort
Despite Barrymore's intentions to connect with her guests through physical touch, viewers at home expressed discomfort with the interaction. Comments on the talk show's Instagram account indicated that Oprah's body language suggested discomfort and a desire to regain personal space.
"Oprah's body language clearly showed that she wanted his hand back," one viewer commented.
Another viewer chimed in, stating, "Drew, no one wants to be held hands."
The overall sentiment among viewers was one of unease, with some describing the physical contact as "beyond their limits" and expressing concern over Barrymore's perceived excessive holding and stroking.
The incident prompted discussions about appropriate interview conduct and the boundaries of physical interaction in a public setting.
