American actress, producer, and talk show host, Drew Barrymore is recognized for her early roles in films such as E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial and Altered States. As a child artist, she claimed fame for herself and later continued her lateral shift into romantic comedies like The Wedding Singer and action-packed movies like Charlie’s Angels.
She not only remains in the limelight as an actress but also produces films via her production entity, Flower Films. However, it’s her talk show, The Drew Barrymore Show, which has grabbed more recent attention. During the season 5 premiere on September 9, 2024, a controversy stirred around Barrymore’s interviewing style, ignited by a conversation with guest Dax Shepard.
Shepard, the host of the Armchair Expert podcast, posed a question about critiques of Barrymore’s ‘physical proximity.’ The audience and viewers had allegedly criticized Barrymore’s tendency for physical contact with her guests, such as touching their hands or leaning in close, making it discomforting for some.
Caught off guard, Barrymore responded with shock and dismay, ‘I am taken aback when I receive criticism for physical proximity during my shows. It truly horrifies me, yet I find it hard to hinder myself. Admittedly, maintaining physical distance is not my strong suit.’
Her candid address of this issue on season 5, episode 1 quickly became a talking point. The Independent highlighted an instance in a 2023 interview where Barrymore held Oprah Winfrey’s hand and seemingly touched her leg. It couldn’t be ignored that in April 2024, she did the same with Vice President Kamala Harris while referring to her as Mom-ala, much to the mockery of her antagonists.
Meghan McCain, TV personality and host of the Meghan McCain Has Entered the Chat podcast, chose to critically discuss Barrymore’s problematic interaction with Harris in a May 1 episode. In her words, ‘Not everything should be a therapy session,’ explicitly questioning the appropriateness of such touchy behaviors.
Conversely, Barrymore presented a different viewpoint, acknowledging the critiques but adamant in her right to express herself through her interviewing style, ‘Many label me as overly tactile and shame me for it, which truly causes me embarrassment. Still, it seems impossible for me to change this part of me.’
Shepard showed his support for Barrymore by playing up the comic aspect of the situation, saying, ‘It is simply who you are. You’re fortunate to be an average-sized woman; imagine if you were a large man like me doing the same, the narrative would have been different. Perhaps you have a liberty that I don’t possess.’
Justifying her actions, Barrymore stated that prominent guests such as Winfrey were at ease with her touching, drawing on Winfrey’s response as evidence: ‘I wish Stedman would touch me like that.’ Of course, such statements did nothing to quell the critical voices aimed against Barrymore’s conduct.
The Drew Barrymore Show, a CBS daytime program that first aired on September 14, 2020, is where all this controversy stirred. As host, Barrymore engages in deep conversations, champions lifestyle segments, and interviews celebrities—a style which has drawn as much criticism as it has praise.
The talk show is not limited to mere chit-chat but explores a wide range of subjects including health & wellness, parenting, and fashion. Plus, it weaves in trivia games as a nod towards lighthearted entertainment while weighing in on current events.
Celebrities such as Reese Witherspoon, Adam Sandler, Zoë Kravitz, and Demi Moore have appeared on the show in recent seasons. Notably absent from this list of invited guests is any commendation regarding the appearances of Kamala Harris and Oprah Winfrey, reflecting the audience’s lukewarm response to these particular episodes.
It isn’t just the homeowner’s rule; Barrymore runs The Drew Barrymore Show with a commanding vigor. Amidst her hosting duties, she is balancing the delicate art of critical acclaim and harsh scrutiny with a consistent dedication to unabashedly voice her personality, persistently displaying a unique mix of compassion and boldness.
It is fascinating how Drew Barrymore, a wise entertainment industry veteran, navigates the tightrope of charisma and critique, managing to keep the show interesting and fresh while constantly battling criticisms. But at the end of the day, what really matters is her resilience to preserve her signature interviewing style while addressing the criticisms with grace.
The post Drew Barrymore’s Cringey Interaction with VP Harris Spotlighted appeared first on Real News Now.
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