Martha, the new Netflix documentary about Martha Stewart, streams beginning October 30 whether Martha likes it or not. (Sidenote: big kudos to Netflix for innocently dropping the release for the height of spooky season. It works.) I have a feeling in me bones that it will be EPIC. The ripple effects this thing is gonna have across memes, TikTok, drag shows… I’m telling you, it’s going to be seismic! From the trailer alone, we got that Bravo-worthy exchange where Martha slams cheating husbands, then casually dismisses the fact that she cheated on her husband because he (allegedly) never knew about it. But I bet he knows about it now! People Mag took it a step further, asking Martha at the NY premiere of the doc if her ex had seen it yet. Martha’s response was quintessential Martha:
Martha Stewart has made another confession about her relationship with her ex-husband.
Speaking exclusively to PEOPLE at the New York Premiere of her Netflix documentary Martha on Monday, Oct. 21, the entrepreneur, 83, revealed that she hasn’t spoken to her ex-husband Andrew “Andy” Stewart in over 20 years.
Asked if Andy had seen the documentary, Martha tells PEOPLE, “The ex-husband? I have no idea. I haven’t talked to him for over 20 years. Sadly.”
Martha and Andy were married from 1961 to 1990 and share daughter Alexis Stewart, who they welcomed in 1965. In Martha, she reveals that they were unfaithful to each other.
“Young women, listen to my advice, if you’re married and your husband starts to cheat on you, he’s a piece of s—,” she says. “Get out of that marriage.”
“Didn’t you have an affair early on? a producer chimes in.
Martha then admits, “Yeah, but I don’t think Andy ever knew about that.”
Back in 2020, the businesswoman opened up to PEOPLE about the impact her divorce had on her.
“Getting divorced was a terrible thing for me, because we were the first to divorce in my family,” she said at the time. “And that we haven’t spoken since the divorce is even more painful. But I’m very strong, and I’m very motivated to get on with life.”
Per a press release, Martha tells the story of the culinary icon’s journey from her teen years as a model to becoming the first self-made, female billionaire in the United States.
The star tells PEOPLE she hopes that those who watch the documentary will take away “that if you work hard and be creative and use your creative intelligence, you can make something of your life.”
“I think being a teacher the way I have been all these years has paid off handsomely,” she added.
You guys, I’m dying. It’s just, she gives us so much! First of all, shame on People Mag for referring to Andrew Stewart as “Andy.” He has a name, and it’s “the ex-husband,” do your research! The perfect penance would be to release any video and/or audio of this exchange, because I simply must know the affect with which Martha uttered “Sadly,” tagged on after declaring she hasn’t spoken to him in 20 years. Was it sincere? Was it deadpan? In my head I’m hearing it delivered in Miranda Priestly’s voice, a la the way she says “That’s all.” Next up: she’s always been a teacher! I mean yes, her home and crafting brand was built around her instructing on how to do things, although a strong argument could be made that she’s a proponent of “do as I say, not as I do.” The way she said it still made me guffaw. When I hear “teacher,” I think more of the inspiring, poorly-paid and under-resourced people who rise to the challenge of educating our kids. And not so much Martha’s heavily-curated and well-funded world. Actually, now that I’m thinking about it, I’d love to see Martha in a room full of either over-sugared tykes or chatty, sassy teens and see what happens. It’d be a good thing.
And finally, because I would be remiss if I did not mention this, Martha wore silver pleather pants to the premiere. If my grandmother were with us today she’d be running out to get herself a pair so fast… That’s all.
Photos credit: © 2024 Martha Stewart/Courte via Netflix Press, Getty
Ouch! I really hope both MS’s exhusband and her daughter did know about the cheating, and that they did not hear about it for the first time here. She had a difficult relationship with her daughter for a while, and if this is her general communication style, the reason is no mystery.
Look, Martha’s no angel, and I don’t think she expects anyone to see her as such. But let’s be fair, that ex-husband cheated on her with her assistant, whom he later married. And that daughter is a spoiled bore, who just seemed perpetually angry in all her tv appearances. I remember her Larry King appearance when her mother was imprisoned. The daughters job was to do the simple task of saying a few nice things about her mother. She just couldn’t. The entire “interview” was just cringe; I kept wondering why she bothered. Everything she has, including her 30-million-dollar penthouse apartment was purchased by Martha. Her children, born through surrogacy — yep, probably Martha’s money as well. That entire relationship just seems contractual to me, like the daughter is bribing the mother — give me this or that or I’ll write a “Mommy Dearest”.
Ooh now I want an unauthorized biography on Martha for details on her daughter. I watched her shows but didn’t catch any with her daughter.
Maybe the daughter is angry and can’t think of anything nice to say about her mother because her mother is an absolute nightmare.
J.Mo., did you know that the daughter and mother once dated the same guy? The daughter defended that guy in the Larry King interview more than she defended her mother. Both Martha and that guy where prosecuted for the insider trading. He was the one who tipped Martha off.
That collection of copper pots in the first pic probably costs more than a car!
I know, and why is it necessary to have so many?
It took me a minute to figure out that there’s a cat next to the flowers.
I bumped on that too – clearly this is not a room a) in an earthquake zone or b) populated by very tall people. Me, I’m short, so my problem would be hauling around a stepstool to get at my damn pans.
Well, divorced after cheating, what is there to talk about?
Why is she telling all this now?
I thought the ex had a restraining order against her for a while? Right when it happened? Could be wrong.
I’ve finally figured out what I love about her- she’s unapologetically herself. She’s completely at peace with herself and her choices and has a strong eff you vibe. I wouldn’t want to hang out with her or be her daughter, but I do respect her. And she’s never been confused about her lane.
Totally agree.
It’s interesting that she’s now admitting that she also cheated because the scandal back then was that poor Martha Stewart’s husband cheated on her with her assistant, then married her and had more children.
Yes, that is the story that was told for years.
Martha and her Mom both kept saying that Martha would never get over the end of her marriage.
I am not liking any of this.
IMO, Martha comes off cold, calculating, and two faced.
She built a huge successful biz. Why all the details about her personal life decades ago, coming out now?
These details have likely been known but the documentary helps make connections between the facts and what Martha has said about them.
Also, it makes a difference knowing that her husband was part of Stewart, Tabori, and Chang, the publishing house that first released Martha’s books, which became the basis of her whole empire. It doesn’t take away from her achievements, but knowing the context for her success and her competitive drive is important. And she and Andy probably got custody of friends and relatives after the divorce, so there are likely plenty of people that Martha doesn’t talk to anymore who know plenty of details about her first marriage.
Wait a minute, we care about her cheating, when it was he who left her for her assistant? He was screwing her assistant FFS!
I’ll be watching on Oct 30. In the meantime, I recommend this “You’re Wrong About” podcast about Martha. She built an empire and I respect her tremendously for that! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BbLX8kwRBnE
Thank you! I’m in love with her estate that I believe she sold, it was the one that was shown in aerial view before one of her shows. It should have at least been a puzzle, think I will find a good photo and order a custom puzzle.
Not surprising, I’ve never been under the illusion she’s a nice person. But why would they talk? They both moved on to separate lives, and their daughter was a grown adult by then.
Also that kitchen photo feels so claustrophobic! What an era that was, everything dark wood.
I am loving the photo of Martha in jodhpurs tailgating with 2 minivans so much.
We had one of those GM Estate Wagons with the fake wood panels on the sides when I was a toddler. It was a second hand one one, dirt cheap apparently, and draughty.
I had no idea they also made minivans like that.
Per the picture above, Martha certainly has some big ass feet, size 11 at least, I’d say. Supposedly, Jackie Kennedy also had big feet and positioned her feet carefully in pictures to avoid revealing side views.
Prison made her more human and likeable to me. Serving the sentence took her down a notch from the high society, rarefied air bubble of her entire life, into one where the “commoners” reside, then after she got out, she started doing projects that were relatable to the rest of us. (Come on, I was never going to cater tailgating at autumn polo matches where jodhpurs are normal attire!) That being said, I would LOVE to see her teach high school Home Ec classes and teach a bunch of teenagers how to do basic things like scramble eggs and sew a button on a shirt…and also make a chocolate souffle and proper care of copper cookware. It would be a very Good Thing.
She’d be amazing, I’d love to see this, too!
Me too!
I haven’t spoken to my exhusband is over 25 years lol. Where’s my documentary?
Right? But beware – I had a good streak going, then right around 50 every ex from middle school forward was reaching out to rehash their lives. “I had a dream that I should get in touch with you. How are your folks?” Shut. Up.
EWWW. I’m so sorry that happened to you!
I love Martha but quite honestly she stole everything from her recipes to her styling from her first business partner and my old friend Sarah Foster.
I’ve heard about Martha appropriating things before, and while I never heard of a specific person she stole ideas from, it was implied she was “inspired” by traditional recipes from establishments that had been in business in that area for a long time.
There’s a whole section in Paul Newman’s biography about what a nightmare they were to live near during the divorce years. And the nightmare in this scenario was not “Andy” — guys! I’m old! I remember the days when Martha was the PUSHIEST, MOST AMBITIOUS, AND RUTHLESS person in the food world.
Miss Martha pretending it was all civil is hilarious.
Oooh, share some details!
I couldn’t figure out why I dislike Martha, and I see it now: she reminds me of Gwyneth Paltrow. The looks, the smugness, the out-of-touch realities… twins.
The entitlement. You nailed it.
Except, to be fair, Gwyneth was/is a Nepo Baby. Martha is self-made. Her parents weren’t poor, but they were on the cusp of Working and Middle Class and certainly didn’t have connections. It was a large family, 5 or 6 kids,. She worked her way through college. Yes, her husband helped her get her first book published, but there is no denying her work ethic and drive.
Martha Stewart will always be hilarious to me.
Also, she carried daisies at her wedding? Martha, how mid of you!
I’ve always thought that the divorce broke her heart, and that she’s always carried a torch for her husband. Maybe she cheated out of revenge. I at times find her enigmatic and perhaps harsh and snooty, but I wonder if she was broken and this is how she glued herself back together and kept going. I’m always going to have some sympathy for her.
Martha is such a piece of work. Such a problem.
…I just love her LMAOOOOO
I hope Martha Stewart and Cher live forever. They serve us so many zingers and give zero f’s about what people think. 😂
no way are those pleather. Martha would never. they’re probably very expensive real leather.
I’m looking forward to the documentary! she created her tradwife empire by being ruthless in business. fascinating.
This kind of ruthlessness over housewares into her twilight years…
My mother and I have joked for years that we could picture Martha going to tag and estate sales and just straight up asking to be given things because she sees herself as the intended recipient and she’ll pay later…maybe. Or eyeing the collections of some of the guests on her show and making a deal later, lol.
She does have impeccable taste.