Drew Barrymore cautioned against her "touchy" habits during talk show interviews

Drew Barrymore reflects on her overly tactile tendencies with guests in conversation with ‘Wicked’ star Cynthia Erivo.

Drew Barrymore, known for her affectionate demeanor, revealed on a recent episode of The Drew Barrymore Show that she has been cautioned about her habit of being "too touchy" with guests during interviews. The candid discussion arose during a conversation with actress Cynthia Erivo about Erivo’s physical bond with her Wicked co-star, Ariana Grande.

“I’m so touchy!” Barrymore, 49, confessed. “People have to warn me. They’re like, ‘Back off a little bit.’ I’m like, ‘Why?’”

Barrymore’s tactile approach has previously made headlines, such as her interactions with Oprah Winfrey and Martha Stewart, but she sees physical touch as a way to connect with others.

Erivo, 37, shared how touch plays a significant role in her dynamic with Grande, saying, “Sometimes you can’t say anything… it’s just a squeeze of a hand or a pinch of the finger.” She added, “I think we assume that physical connection can only be romantic.”

Barrymore echoed these sentiments, suggesting a world where people are more at ease with touch. “I would like to see us all be more comfortable with physical touch,” she said.

Despite the feedback she’s received, Barrymore embraced Erivo warmly during the show. “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,’” she remarked, referencing the success of Wicked, which has become the highest-grossing Broadway musical adaptation in film history.

Erivo responded by holding Barrymore’s hand, illustrating their shared appreciation for physical connection as a form of communication and support.