Drew Barrymore is known for her personal, open style in interviews, but her April 2024 conversation with Vice President Kamala Harris left her feeling deeply uneasy. Speaking at the Paley Center for Media, Barrymore admitted that the interview, which quickly went viral for its awkward moments, made her feel “sick to her stomach.”
She feared that any misstep could harm Harris’s reputation. “I was terrified,” Barrymore revealed. “All I kept thinking was if you do one thing to screw up this woman’s path — and you are the clown to do it — if you do one thing that makes her look bad, or becomes a gap, or just does something to… [interviewing] is such an art.”
As reported by Mediaite, Barrymore explained her internal struggle, saying, “I wanted to see her be fun and disarmed, but I was like, what if I do one thing that’s goofy and she plays along, and I’ve led her down a bad path? That was making me so sick to my stomach, but I wasn’t going to give up trying.”
The interview was criticized online as “cringe” and overly emotional, with some viewers commenting on the clash between Barrymore’s warm, touchy-feely approach and Harris’s polished, political persona. Social media quickly latched onto the uncomfortable moments that unfolded during their exchange.
One of the most talked-about moments, according to Entertainment Weekly, came when Barrymore remarked, “I keep thinking in my head that we all need a mom. I’ve been thinking that we really all need a tremendous hug in the world right now. But in our country, we need you to be Momala of the country.” The comment sparked mixed reactions online.
Despite the awkwardness, Barrymore praised Harris for her openness and the connection they shared. “It was one of the most ignited, exciting experiences of my life, and it was about something that she lives every day, which is how to not get it wrong,” Barrymore reflected.
She also shared her intentions for the interview, telling the audience, “I told [CBS Mornings’] Shawna [Thomas] and Gayle [King], ‘All I want to do with Kamala is have this be a more personal experience, not just for her, but the whole thing.’ I want to disarm. I want to take the armor off. This isn’t about talking about issues like that.”
In the end, despite her nerves, Barrymore described the experience as one of the most “ignited” and “exciting” moments of her career, praising Harris for being game to engage in a personal and wide-ranging discussion.