[imagesource:thedrewbarrymoreshow]

Drew Barrymore’s interview with Oprah Winfrey has gone viral after clips circulated of the enthusiastic talk show host stroking Winfrey’s arm and holding her hands as they talked.

The Daily Beast called Drew a “syrupy” talk show host, with a reputation for slathering her celebrity guests in excessive praise and flattery, while also often leaning in too close and getting touchy-feely.

It might just be the cheery actress’s style, but the sit down with Winfrey on The Drew Barrymore Show on Tuesday left some viewers feeling a little cringed-out.

While the two discussed the importance of crowd interaction, Barrymore grabbed Winfrey’s hand and propped it underneath her chin, held on to Winfrey’s hand while she tried to talk, and repeatedly caressed her arm.

A viral X post showed Winfrey speaking expressively with her hands while Barrymore continued to hold on, with commenters saying Winfrey was clearly trying to pry herself loose:

crying at oprah talking with her hands while she and drew are holding hands pic.twitter.com/QWi272iDIc

— Jordan (@itsjordanapps) December 12, 2023

While the media mogul didn’t appear to be too troubled by Barrymore’s handsy approach during the interview, The Drew Barrymore Show’s Instagram account is getting flooded with criticism.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by The Drew Barrymore Show (@thedrewbarrymoreshow)

“Drew, everyone doesn’t want their hands held boo,” one of many upvoted commenters wrote on the above clip from the interview. Another viewer wrote, “Oprahs body language was so clear she wanted her hand back,” while another chimed in, “The hand hold and the arm being caressed is past my boundary.”

E! Entertainment reports that the legendary talk show host defended Drew, however, saying that she “was not uncomfortable at all,” adding that “I’ve never seen her do that, but I thought it was endearing.”

“I was actually comforted by the stroking of the arm,” Oprah explained, adding that she even joked to longtime partner Stedman Graham when she got home,”‘You got to stroke my arm. Stedman, I need to be stroked on the arm.'”

She even gave Drew some extra love, saying “Drew is terrific, and I love that she is always herself.”

In fact, Drew’s long-time pal Jimmy Fallon called her out for her interview technique when she appeared on The Tonight Show in April, saying “You can’t sit in your chair. You get in there,” to which Drew responded by admitting, “I feel this magnetic pull.”

She said she feels the closeness actually helps her form a connection with her guests.

Yeah, man, spread the love. No harm, no foul.

[sources:dailybeast&e!entertainment]