Oprah 'not a bit' uncomfortable with Drew Barrymore getting handsy during interview: 'I was actually comforted by the stroking of the arm'

Oprah Winfrey says she was not put off at all by Drew Barrymore's handsy behavior during an interview with her earlier this week - and encourages her longtime partner Stedman Graham to take notice.

Oprah, 69, said she was 'not a bit' uncomfortable with Barrymore's conduct in the appearance - which was panned by viewers on social media. 

'I was actually comforted by the stroking of the arm, the TV icon told TMZ Tuesday while she was at the Empire State Building promoting The Color Purple.

The media mogul joked that she hoped Graham, 72, would follow suit after Barrymore, 48, was seen repeatedly stroking Oprah's arm and hand in the exchange.

'I went home and told Steadman you gotta stroke my arm - "Stedman, I need to be stroked on the arm" - it’s so comforting,' the broadcasting veteran said.

The stalwart television personality expounded on her state of mind following the exchange.

'I was not uncomfortable at all,' Oprah said. 'I’ve never seen her do that, but I thought it was endearing, is what I thought; I thought it was really great, thank you for asking.

The Kosciusko, Mississippi-born star, who celebrates her 70th birthday next month, had words of praise for Barrymore, who was at the center of controversy three months ago when she decided to continue her talk show amid the writers strike.

Said Oprah: 'Drew, she’s terrific, and I love that she's always herself, I really like that.'

On the show, Barrymore praised Oprah as a role model for her as a talk show host, particularly her tendency to chat with the audience to build chemistry for the show.

Oprah said Barrymore did an admirable job hosting the show amid the coronavirus pandemic with no studio audience present.

'That’s why this is so hard to do without an audience, and I was complimenting you on the fact that you got through it without an audience because it’s almost - because you’re not getting their energy,' Oprah said.

A number of commenters chimed in the comments section on a clip Barrymore posted of the interview on her show's Instagram page and her personal page.

'Drew, everyone doesn’t want their hands held boo,' one user said, while another added that 'someone needs to give Drew the personal space talk.'

One user asked of Barrymore, 'Why is she so touchy feely it's very uncomfortable to watch,' while another said that 'the hand hold and the arm being caressed is past my boundary.'

Another user said that Oprah's 'body language was so clear she wanted her hand back.'

One user said they wished Barrymore 'would stop touching people,' saying she exhibited similar conduct during a recent chat with Dolly Parton.