Drew Barrymore has finally revealed why she sits so close to her celebrity guests on her talk show – which has been renewed for a sixth season.
The actress, 48, has previously been blasted as ‘creepy and clingy’ for routinely invading celebrities’ personal space on The Drew Barrymore Show – but Drew said her being a people person is her main motivator.
Speaking to Entertainment Tonight, she said: ‘Well, I’ll try to practice physical distance, which is not my strong point.
‘You know how hard the pandemic was for me? I was alone in a studio by myself I like to be around people.
‘It’s not everyone’s favorite, but I’m sorry to those people. I think that first of all we’re always gonna be big on joy and laughter and feeling good, and that was something I always wanted to do, but I never thought we would launch in a pandemic, and trying to lean into the joy and the feel good and the comedy at that time was real weird and wacky.’
Drew Barrymore has finally revealed why she sits so close to her celebrity guests on her talk show – which has been renewed for a sixth season – seen with Oprah in December
The Drew Barrymore Show – season five of which will premiere Monday, September 9 on CBS – has been renewed for season six.
Wendy McMahon, president and CEO of CBS News and Stations and CBS Media Ventures said: ‘Drew is a one-of-a-kind talent who is an integral part of the CBS and Paramount family. This early renewal and upgrades are a testament to our commitment to The Drew Barrymore Show and its loyal audience, who tune in every day to see Drew’s warmth, inquisitiveness and spontaneity.
‘Over the last few seasons, stations have realized that The Drew Barrymore Show is like no other series in daytime, bringing Drew’s brand of positivity and ad-friendly content to viewers on a consistent basis. Many of these upgrades now pair Drew with a CBS Mornings lead-in, which has proven to be a powerful combination. This season, in markets where Drew airs at 9 a.m., its ratings are +21% higher among total viewers when CBS Mornings is the lead-in.
In December Barrymore was blasted online for yet another personal space-invading interview, this time with Oprah Winfrey.
The former child star used her right hand to hold the 69-year-old OWN CEO’s right hand and she used her left hand to slowly caress her arm.
Drew stroked Oprah like one of her many dogs that roam the set while saying: ‘Something that I learned about you, because I didn’t know this detail was that you would spend time with the audience outside of the show you were filming. And one thing that I’ve done is spend time with the audience every day. And I had felt guilty for it.’
As Winfrey replied that she talked to her audience members at length ‘every day’ because ‘it was necessary’ she started to shift her body away from Barrymore.
The actress, 48, has previously been blasted as ‘creepy and clingy’ for routinely invading celebrities’ personal space on The Drew Barrymore Show – but Drew said her being a people person is her main motivator. – seen closing in on Austin Butler
In the past, many a meme and montage has been made about how close Drew gets to celebrity guests like Brooke Shields (L), Chloe Bailey (R), Vanessa Hudgens, Dylan Mulvaney, Jennifer Aniston, and Reese Witherspoon
‘My crew used to be like, “Oh my god, how much time is she going to spend talking to that audience?! Would she please let the audience go so we can let the next audience in?!”‘ the self-made mogul said while taking her arm back.
As Oprah praised the former Hollywood wildchild for managing without an audience during the coronavirus pandemic, she began talking with both hands in order to reclaim her personal space.
Instagram user @daniella3183 wrote in the comments of The Drew Barrymore Show’s post on Monday: ‘Drew, everyone doesn’t want their hands held boo.’
‘Oprah’s body language was so clear she wanted her hand back,’ Instagram user @loubicorn agreed.
Instagram user @blr5727 chimed in: ‘Oprah’s body language says it all. Drew is holding on too much. Oprah is trying to release her hand from Drew’s grip. Drew is just too creepy and needy.’
‘I don’t think Oprah is used to people holding her like this in public but I love drew for it,’ Instagram user @diananjeri commented.
Instagram user @gillybear83 wrote: ‘The hand hold and the arm being caressed is past my boundary.’
‘She’s really creeping me out now. It’s just to weird,’ commented Instagram user @angel_marie1111.
Instagram user @cee_cee_always wrote: ‘When she said “please let the audience go” she meant “please let my hand go.”‘
Drew stroked Oprah like one of her many dogs that roam the set while saying: ‘Something that I learned about you, because I didn’t know this detail was that you would spend time with the audience outside of the show you were filming. And one thing that I’ve done is spend time with the audience every day. And I had felt guilty for it’
While taking her arm back, the self-made mogul said: ‘My crew used to be like, “Oh my god, how much time is she going to spend talking to that audience?! Would she please let the audience go so we can let the next audience in?!”‘
Instagram users took to the comments section of The Drew Barrymore Show’s post to express their discomfort with her handsy interview tactics
Instagram user @gillybear83 wrote, ‘The hand hold and the arm being caressed is past my boundary’ and Instagram user @angel_marie1111 agreed: ‘She’s really creeping me out now. It’s just to weird’
‘Oprah definitely wants her hand back,’ agreed Instagram user @kellejudahphotography.
‘I stopped watching Drew’s show because she’s way too clingy and weird. Super cringe!’ Instagram user @benzzzzblonde added.
In the past, many a meme and montage has been made about how handsy Drew gets to celebrity guests like Brooke Shields, Chloe Bailey, Vanessa Hudgens, Dylan Mulvaney, Jennifer Aniston, and Reese Witherspoon.
‘I feel this magnetic pull…I’m on my knees, I’m hugging,’ Barrymore defended her interview style on the April 27th episode of The Tonight Show.
‘I actually am really into this. At first, I was like, “Oh is this a good thing? I can’t tell.” And then I was like, “No, this is awesome! It’s so much fun!”‘
