Drew Barrymore’s interview techniques have sparked a stir again after her chat with Austin Butler resurfaced, with uncomfortable viewers declaring her style “invasive”.
The 49-year-old talk show host invited the Hollywood actor and her Masters of the Air co-star Callum Turner onto her show in February, where they shared advice they received from George Clooney.
During the interview, Drew sat close to Austin and revealed that George had once encouraged her to maintain eye contact while filming a scene, even though she found it “intimate.”
After a clip of their chat was posted to Drew’s social media pages over the weekend, viewers couldn’t help but notice the host’s physical closeness to Austin, with one going so far as to claim she was “creeping” him.
Criticising her form, one asked: ‘Why is she always sitting on guests?’
Drew Barrymore’s interview techniques have raised suspicions after her chat with Austin Butler resurfaced
The 49-year-old presenter was accused of “always ignoring her guests” after the February interview was posted on the show’s official social media over the weekend.
Another said: “Invasive? This is coming from a woman who practically fucks her guests?”
A third wrote: “I’m still trying to figure out if I like her as a presenter. She tries too hard to connect and fails…”
“It’s so disgusting,” said a fourth. “It’s literally scaring the shit out of this guy.”
A fifth added: “He’s talking about something invasive and she’s almost straddling him.”
During their chat, Drew recalled the time when George directed her in Confessions of a Dangerous Mind (2002), his directorial debut.
She revealed that she “loved working with him” and that “he saved me from doing things that I don’t think would serve me as an actress.”
Drew said: ‘He would say, ‘You never make eye contact with people in a scene,’ which prompted her to clarify her reasoning for avoiding staring.
“I’m like, ‘Well, because it’s so intimate. Should we kiss while we’re at it?’ The eye contact is insane.”
Austin had joined the show alongside his Masters of the Air co-star Callum Turner.
Viewers couldn’t help but criticise Drew’s form on social media, with some describing it as “embarrassing”.
—Look, I feel the pressure now to not take my eyes off you right now —Callum commented while gesturing with his hands towards his eyes.
“Eye contact is a very important thing in life,” Drew replied.
“I almost feel like it’s a bit invasive and that’s why I avoid it, but George helped me realize that I shouldn’t do it.”
Despite criticism from viewers, Austin seemed relaxed and comfortable during the interview.
Kamala Harris joined actress Drew on her daytime talk show in April, where the two unusually sat together on the large couch.
During her appearance, she maintained a calm demeanor and rested her right arm on the back of the couch facing Drew while using her other arm to pet her dog.
Drew’s interview style has long been the subject of criticism.
In April, he came under fire after a bizarre interview with Vice President Kamala Harris, in which he urged her to be the “country’s mom.”
During the conversation, the two were seated unusually close to each other on the large sofa.
At one point, Drew leaned forward and held Harris’ hands as the audience applauded.