Drew Barrymore vows to work on ‘creepy’ interview conduct after viewer complaints

‘Talk about shame and embarrassment,’ said the actor and talk-show host

Drew Barrymore has said that she is working on her on-set behaviour in response to viewer complaints.

The actor, 49, has hosted her own talk show since 2020 and welcomed guests such as Reese Witherspoon, Jonah Hill, Adam Sandler, Dolly Parton, and most recently Zoë Kravitz.

Barrymore has become known for her intimate and tactile interview style, often affectionately touching her guests and cosying up to them on the sofa.

During the season five premiere of The Drew Barrymore Show, which aired on Monday (9 September), the actor acknowledged her divisive conduct.

The Charlie’s Angels star went on to say that she is trying to work on the “physical proximity” between herself and her guests in response to people who have said she is “too touchy”.

The actor vowed to “try to practise physical distance”, though admitted that it was not her “strong point”.

“I don’t know if I can break the habit, either,” she said.

Speaking with Armchair Expert podcaster and actor Dax Shepard, Barrymore explained: “I get in trouble for physical proximity on this show.”

Dua Lipa and Drew Barrymore in Conversation (2024 Invision)

She continued: “I guess a lot of people say like, ‘You’re too touchy,’ about me. And I’m like, ‘Oh that’s so…’ talk about shame and embarrassment. I’m horrified when I hear that, and yet I can’t stop.”

Speaking with her guests on the show, Barrymore will frequently hold their hands, touch their shoulder or pull them into a hug, with some viewers applauding her friendly demeanour but many others taking issue with it.

Shepard, who is married to actor Kirsten Bell, told Barrymore: “It’s kind of who you are.”

(The Drew Barrymore Show)

He went on to explain that the situation would be different if she were a man. “It is helpful that you’re an average-sized lady. If you were my size man-handling everyone, it might be a little different. So you might have a freedom I don’t,” he said.

Responding to Barrymore who asked whether he ever got “the urge to touch people” on his podcast, Shepard said: “I do. You and I are very similar. We’re very touchy. We’re very love addict-y. Ding, ding, ding, we talked about that.”

Shepherd went on to say that he is “saved by the fact that I’m across the room from my guests” when recording episodes of his podcast, adding that Barrymore has “permission to touch me” during their interview, stating: “I consent!”

(The Drew Barrymore Show)

As they spoke, Barrymore began stroking both his shoulder as well as her dog, Douglas, on the sofa between them. “Now I’m petting both of you,” she joked before stopping.

Elsewhere in the episode, the actor spoke about her hands-on approach to interviewing Oprah Winfrey last year.

Barrymore had cupped Winfrey’s hand and held it below her chin while stroking her arm, and placed her hand on Winfrey’s leg, which some viewers criticised as “creepy” and “cringe”.

Speaking about the 2023 episode, Barrymore insisted that the media mogul did not mind her interview approach.

“[Winfrey] said, ‘I wish Stedman would touch me like that,’” she recalled, referring to Winfrey’s long term partner. “She was so nice about it. And if a guest starts telling me that [they’re bothered], I will back off.”

In April, Barrymore was similarly criticised by viewers over her interview with Vice President Kamala Harris, whose hand she held during their chat and whom she referred to as “Mom-ala”.