Drew Barrymore admits she’s been ‘warned’ to ‘back off’ with her touchy interviews

The 49-year-old made her mark on the industry way before starting her talk show in 2020.

From starring in films like Charlie’s Angels (2000) and E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial to starring alongside Adam Sandler in his Happy Madison films, Barrymore is no stranger to the screen.

Although she still acts, her latest film Smile 2, Barrymore has continued with her optimistic and informative TV talk show, The Drew Barrymore Show.

Barrymore is known for her bright and caring personality, often getting close and personal with guests in her show.

However, not everyone is a fan.

In a recent episode with Wicked actress Cynthia Erivo, Barrymore admitted that she had been warned to “back off” during her interviews.

“People have to warn me, they’re like, ‘Back off a little bit.’ And I’m like, ‘Why?'”

Erivo, who has also been under the social media spotlight for her touchiness and close relationship with co-star Arian Grande, understood Barrymore’s predicament.

Barrymore discussed the topic further with Erivo, asking about her relationship with Grande.

The 37-year-old actress shared how she is “used to” Grande’s touch, and if she isn’t around she notices, “if it’s not like, connected, I’m like, ‘What’s wrong? What’s happening? Where are you?'”

“We walk hand in hand very often. Like, if we’re not walking hand in hand, we’ll find each other somewhere.”

The conversation decided to look deeper into the meaning behind physical touch, and why people seem to be so afraid of it.

“I think we assume that physical connection can only be romantic,” Erivo remarked, in which Barrymore completed agreed, sharing how she has no romantic partner but sill enjoys physical touch.

“Sometimes you can’t say anything and you’re in a room and you’re like, it’s just a squeeze of a hand.”

“And that sometimes is how she and I communicate. We might be talking to someone, or I might need to communicate something to her and it’s just a squeeze of a hand or a pinch of the finger. Or a hug.”

After embracing one another, Barrymore shared how grateful she was to be able to hold someone so talented, also commenting on Wicked‘s commercial success.

“I was just hugging you just now and I thought, ‘I am so lucky to embrace and actually physically be near someone who is breaking records.'”

Wicked was released on November 22nd, with a sequel already announced for November 21, 2025.

The musical fantasy film has already reached over $540 million at the box office.

Featured image credit: The Drew Barrymore Show