Drew Barrymore plans to put a little more distance between herself and future talk show guests.
In an interview with Entertainment Tonight published on Thursday, Barrymore was asked what she plans to do on the upcoming season of “The Drew Barrymore Show,” to which she replied, “I’m going to try and maintain physical distancing, because that’s not my forte.”
Barrymore then appeared to explain her constant habit of getting skin-to-skin with guests.
She said her show, which began in September 2020, initially featured guests appearing virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Do you know how hard the pandemic has been for me? I’ve been in the studio by myself,” she told ET. “I love being with people.”
She said her tactile interviewing style “is not to everyone’s liking,” adding, “I feel sorry for those people.”
Barrymore has faced criticism from people who think her physical displays of affection with guests are a bit too much.
In December, some social media users called Barrymore “embarrassing” for awkwardly touching TV legend Oprah Winfrey during an episode of the show, in which the “Charlie’s Angels” star held Winfrey’s hand and stroked her arm while the two were talking.
But Winfrey later defended Barrymore, telling TMZ that she “wasn’t unpleasant at all” and that she found the host’s behavior “endearing.”
“The Drew Barrymore Show” is set to return for a fifth season next month.
On Thursday, Wendy McMahon, president and CEO of CBS News and Stations and CBS Media Ventures, announced that the daytime show has been renewed for a sixth season.
Hear more from Barrymore on Entertainment Tonight.