Martha Stewart showed she’s not afraid to stand her ground — even in a playful way.

At one point, Barrymore, known for her warm demeanor, asked Stewart what makes her feel “soft and gooey,” to which Stewart responded with a humorous twist: “Soft and gooey treatment.” Barrymore then reached out and gently stroked Stewart’s back.

“You’re the wrong gender,” Stewart jested as she gave Barrymore a light push.

“I know,” replied Barrymore, playing along with the joke by dramatically leaning back against the couch.

While the interaction was all in good fun, Barrymore is known for her close and personal interviewing style, often getting physically close to her guests. This past year, during a memorable interview with Vice President Kamala Harris, Barrymore held her hand, playfully referring to her as “Momala of the country.” Similarly, her embrace with Oprah Winfrey sparked a mix of comments online, with one viewer expressing discomfort, saying, “Drew doesn’t have any personal space and I’m uncomfortable.”

In August, Barrymore told Entertainment Tonight she intends to “try to practice physical distance, which is not my strong point,” in up-and-coming episodes of her show.

Barrymore also recognized that not all viewers appreciate her touchy-feely approach, attributing it to the loneliness experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic. “The pandemic was tough for me,” she shared with ET, noting, “I was alone in a studio. I crave being around people!”

While promoting her latest cookbook, Stewart has been making the rounds and has been known for her candid remarks. In a recent interview with The New York Times, she openly criticized a Netflix documentary about her life, and on the “Rent Free” game show, Stewart described her neighbor Ryan Reynolds by saying, “he isn’t funny” off-screen.

“He’s a talented actor,” Stewart clarified. “He can portray humor well. But in real life, he doesn’t come off as funny. Perhaps he can find that funny side again. I might get in trouble for saying this.”