Lifestyle icon shares personal story in new Netflix documentary
Martha Stewart, the 83-year-old lifestyle mogul, has opened up about pivotal and often painful moments from her early life in her new Netflix documentary, Martha. The film, which Stewart herself recently admitted she “hates,” features candid discussions about her early relationship with her ex-husband Andrew “Andy” Stewart, infidelity, and the struggles that marked their nearly three-decade-long marriage.
Captivated from the first date
Martha Stewart recounts how she met Andy Stewart when she was 19, while he was a 23-year-old student at Yale Law School. Their first date left a lasting impression on her. “He picked me up in his little yellow Mercedes sedan. I had never been in a Mercedes before,” Stewart recalls in the documentary. “By the end of dinner, I was madly in love.”
A family’s strong disapproval
Despite their blossoming romance, their relationship faced immediate resistance from Stewart’s father, Edward Kostyra. Stewart shares a shocking memory in the documentary: “My dad slapped me hard on my face and said: ‘No, you’re not marrying him. He’s a Jew.’” The revelation highlights the cultural and familial challenges Martha encountered as she pursued her relationship with Andy.
The unraveling of a long marriage
The documentary not only revisits the early days of their relationship but also explores the dissolution of their 29-year marriage. Both Martha and Andy engaged in extramarital affairs, adding to the tension in their partnership. Martha admits, “I don’t think Andy ever knew about that,” acknowledging an affair early in their marriage.
According to Kathy Tatlock, a friend of Stewart, the situation worsened when Andy began an affair with an employee at their Connecticut estate, Turkey Hill Farm. “She had lost control of Andy, so she was making everybody pay,” Tatlock reveals, adding that Stewart struggled with migraines and episodes of self-harm during this difficult period.
Discovering the betrayal
Stewart shares her reaction to Andy’s affair, which started while she was away on business. “When I was traveling, Andy started up with her,” she says. “It was like I put out a snack for Andy.” The sense of betrayal compounded the strain on their relationship and contributed to their growing emotional distance.
Tatlock describes the Stewarts’ dynamic in the 1980s as “more like colleagues than life partners,” with signs of strain apparent well before their eventual divorce in 1990. The documentary offers viewers an unfiltered look at the personal trials behind Stewart’s public success and resilience.
A deeper understanding of an icon
Martha provides insight into Stewart’s personal battles, shedding light on the private challenges that shaped the public figure known for her polished image and business acumen. The documentary captures her journey through love, loss, and reinvention, revealing a complexity that underscores the humanity behind the brand.
