Martha Stewart claims ‘unfriendly’ Ina Garten cut ties during her prison time

Martha Stewart recently opened up about her strained relationship with Ina Garten, sharing candid thoughts in a profile with The New Yorker. The conversation highlighted a noticeable rift that developed when Stewart faced legal troubles in 2004.

Stewart disclosed that Garten ceased communication with her while she was serving time in prison for insider trading. “When I was sent off to Alderson Prison, she stopped talking to me,” Stewart confessed in the interview published on September 9. “I found that extremely distressing and extremely unfriendly.” Garten, on the other hand, provided a different perspective, stating that their friendship faded as Stewart began spending more time at a newer property in Bedford, New York.

In 2005, Stewart completed a five-month sentence at Federal Prison Camp Alderson in West Virginia after being convicted of lying to federal investigators regarding a stock sale. Following Stewart’s comments, her publicist and close friend, Susan Magrino, aimed to clarify the situation, insisting that the lifestyle icon was “not bitter at all” and emphasizing that there was no feud between them.

Attempts were made to obtain comments from representatives of both Stewart and Garten, but no official statements were released.

The New Yorker article delves into the history of the friendship between both culinary figures. It describes how Stewart was an admirer of Garten’s now-closed specialty food shop in the Hamptons, particularly for its renowned lemon bars. That initial admiration blossomed into a personal friendship and professional collaboration.

In 2000, Stewart’s production company even developed a show starring Garten for the Food Network titled “Someone’s in the Kitchen with Ina,” although the program never aired. Garten recalled her mother’s skepticism, questioning why someone of Stewart’s stature would be interested in her. Stewart, meanwhile, attributed Garten’s appeal as the driving force behind their partnership.

Despite their past camaraderie, Stewart’s remarks reveal a certain distance, as she noted regarding Garten’s recipes, “I have never cooked them,” despite saying she enjoyed some of her dishes, like the coconut cupcakes.

The Food Network’s “The Barefoot Contessa” first premiered in 2002, and according to Stewart, their friendship began to shift noticeably after that. Today, Garten stars in “Be My Guest,” a program where she welcomes various celebrities for cooking and conversations.

This candid look into Stewart and Garten’s friendship illustrates how careers and personal lives can intersect and entangle, sometimes leading to unforeseen rifts. As both women continue to thrive in their respective culinary ventures, it remains to be seen whether there is potential for reconciliation in the future.

Source: USA TODAY