Drew Barrymore said she's been told to keep her hands to herself on her talk show.
According to PageSix, on Tuesday's episode of "The Drew Barrymore Show," the "Charlie's Angels" actress, 49, spoke to Cynthia Erivo, 37, about the "Wicked" star's touchy-feely ways with Ariana Grande.
"Is it true that she is as touchy?" Barrymore asked Erivo about the pop artist before describing her habits.
"I'm so touchy!" Barrymore confessed. "People have to warn me. They're like, 'Back off a little bit.' I'm like, 'Why?'"
Barrymore has been criticized for being too close to Martha Stewart and Oprah Winfrey on her talk program.
Erivo said she's "used to" Grande's persistent physical touch on Tuesday.
"If it's not, like, connected, I'm like, 'What's wrong? What's happening? Where are you?'" Erivo admitted. "We walk hand in hand very often. Like, if we're not walking hand in hand, we'll find each other somewhere."
Ervivo thinks humans fear physical contact.
"I think we assume that physical connection can only be romantic," she said, to which Barrymore agreed.
Erivo also described Grande's touch communication methods.
"Sometimes you can't say anything and you're in a room and you're like, it's just a squeeze of a hand. And that sometimes is how she and I communicate," she said. "We might be talking to someone, or I might need to communicate something to her and it's just a squeeze of a hand or a pinch of the finger. Or a hug."
Erivo then defended Grande, 31, for her constant pawing, stating it works for their relationship.
"However we need to communicate is how we need to communicate," Erivo said. "And I think we don't give enough credit to how we need to communicate with our friends physically."
Barrymore said she wished people "could all be more comfortable with physical touch."
The former child star hugged Erivo during their conversation.
"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,'" Barrymore told the actress, per The Express Tribune.
Erivo gladly took Barrymore's hand.
The "7 Rings" singer's handsy interactions with Erivo during their musical film promotion have sparked internet memes and parodies.
Erivo plays Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West, while Grande plays Glinda in the Nov. 22 picture.
Social media users exhibited varied responses to Barrymore's disclosures, with some endorsing her methodology and others scrutinizing the bounds.
"Drew is so relatable! Physical touch is such an underrated form of communication," a netizen posted.
"I love Drew, but boundaries exist for a reason. Not everyone wants to be hugged!" another X user added.
"Ariana and Cynthia's 'touch language' is friendship goals. So wholesome," a third follower wrote.
"Drew admitting she's been warned? Hilarious and kind of awkward," another joked.
"Can't believe this is even news. Let people hug if they want!" a fifth person exclaimed.
"Physical touch can be beautiful, but only if everyone's on board. Communication is key!" another netizen said.
Business Times has reached out to Drew Barrymore for comments.
