People uncomfortable with how much Drew Barrymore kept touching Oprah Winfrey during interview

People have been left feeling uncomfortable after watching Drew Barrymore interview Oprah Winfrey recently on her US chat show.

Many celebrities have appeared on The Drew Barrymore Show over the years, making for some memorial moments.

The likes of Brooke Shields have provided some emotional moments, while Barrymore herself has had moments where she's been criticized by viewers.

Now, the TV host has been slammed by viewers for a what some are claiming is a personal space-invading interview with Winfrey.

Watch below:

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 Winfrey as she used her right hand to hold her guest while using her left hand to slowly caress her arm.

As she stroked Winfrey, 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'.

Instagram/@thedrewbarrymoreshow

"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.

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 of an audience member. "She’s like the Amen choir. So to do it, without anybody, applause to you."

The touchy-feeling interaction did not exactly go down well with viewers, as many took to social media to criticize Barrymore.

Instagram/@thedrewbarrymoreshow

Part of the interview has been posted to The Drew Barrymore Show Instagram account, with one user penning: "Drew, everyone doesn’t want their hands held boo."

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

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

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