Oprah defends Drew Barrymore after criticizm from people ‘uncomfortable’ by touching during interview

Oprah Winfrey has defended Drew Barrymore after the TV presenter was criticised by people who were left 'uncomfortable' by the pair's recent interview.

The Drew Barrymore Show has gotten pretty close and personal with their celebrity guests - with the likes of Brooke Shields providing some emotional moments on the show.

But recently, the TV host faced some criticism for what some viewers are claiming is an 'overbearing' interview with Winfrey.

During her appearance, Winfrey, 69, praised Barrymore for the comfort she provided during the Covid-19 pandemic with her hugely popular talk show.

But as they talked, Barrymore cosied up to the TV talk show host as she used her right hand to hold her guest while using her left hand to slowly caress her arm.

As she stroked Winfrey's arm, Barrymore said: "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."

Winfrey confirmed her knowledge, deeming that the crowd interaction was indeed 'necessary'.

"My crew used to be like, ‘Oh my God, how much time you should go spend talking to that audience?" she elaborated as Barrymore continued to clutch her hand.

Drew Barrymore was criticized online for the interview. YouTube/ The Drew Barrymore Show

The host was left pretty happy that Winfrey agreed with her, subsequently letting go of her hand.

However, she did keep caressing her arm as Winfrey continued: "That’s why this is so hard to do without an audience, and I was complimenting you on the fact that you got through it without an audience because it’s almost — because you’re not getting their energy.

"It’s their energy. It’s their feedback. It’s understanding whether whatever you’re saying is connecting.

"Look at lady in red. See? she’s nodding," she said about an audience member. "She’s like the Amen choir. So to do it, without anybody, applause to you."

While it was quite an emotional interview, the touchy-feeling interaction did not exactly go down well with viewers.

In fact, many took to social media to criticize Barrymore for it.

Taking to Instagram, one user wrote: "Drew, everyone doesn’t want their hands held boo."

A second added: "Oprahs body language was so clear she wanted her hand back."

YouTube/ The Drew Barrymore Show

While a third remarked: "Drew is too overbearing and cringey & it doesn’t seem genuine the way she fawns all over her guests!!"

Following the criticism, Winfrey herself has come out and defended Barrymore.

When asked by a TMZ paparazzo if she felt 'uncomfortable' by Barrymore's actions in the interview, Winfrey responded: "Not a bit. I was actually comforted by the stroking of the arm."

She continued: "I went home and told Stedman, 'You gotta stroke my arm. Stedman, I need to be stroked on the arm.' It’s so comforting.

"No, I was not uncomfortable at all. I’ve never seen her do that but I thought it was endearing."

UNILAD has previously reached out to Barrymore's representatives for comment.