Meghan Markle playfully teased Drew Barrymore about her well-known habit of being overly affectionate during an interview on The Drew Barrymore Show.
Barrymore, known for being very touchy with her guests, sat close to Markle and said, “I feel like once I’m with someone, I like to connect. I might, you know, octopus.”
Markle laughed and responded, “I’ve heard you like to connect,” referencing Barrymore’s reputation for being physically affectionate.
Although some might find Barrymore’s closeness overwhelming, Markle didn’t seem to mind. She even reached out to touch Barrymore’s hand, saying, “The way you show connection is so sweet.”
Barrymore then asked, “I’m such a warm person and I love affection. How do you feel about that?”
Markle agreed that physical connection is important, especially after the isolation of the pandemic. “We crave being able to go, ‘Hi, my friend. Are you here?’ And to really be able to hold and touch and embrace someone,” she said.
She also tied this idea to her new Netflix cooking show, With Love, Meghan, explaining that hospitality is about making people feel welcome.
While Markle seemed to embrace Barrymore’s touchy personality, a body language expert told the Daily Mail that she may have actually been uncomfortable.
Judi James analyzed the interaction and claimed that Markle “was not totally open to any touching or hugging at this point.” She suggested that while Barrymore showed warmth, Markle appeared “more emotionally distant” and focused on the camera rather than her host.
Barrymore has received similar criticism in the past for her physical interactions with guests. She was previously called “cringy” for holding Oprah Winfrey’s hand and stroking Martha Stewart’s back during interviews, leading Stewart to push her away.
