Martha Stewart and Ina Garten's Friendship Fallout: The Prison Sentence That Divided Them

Martha Stewart and Ina Garten, culinary icons and once-close friends, have revealed the reason behind their decades-long estrangement: Stewart's prison sentence for insider trading. Stewart claims Garten cut off contact after she was sent to prison, while Garten disputes this account.

Martha Stewart and Ina Garten, two of the most renowned culinary personalities in America, have opened up about the end of their decades-long friendship.

In a recent New Yorker profile, Garten revealed that she and Stewart drifted apart after Stewart purchased a new property in Bedford, New York, and began spending less time with her. Stewart, on the other hand, maintains that Garten cut off contact after she was sentenced to prison in 2004 for insider trading.

Martha Stewart and Ina Garten's Friendship Fallout: The Prison Sentence That Divided Them

"When I was sent off to Alderson Prison, she stopped talking to me," Stewart said. "I found that extremely distressing and extremely unfriendly."

Stewart's publicist, Susan Magrino, confirmed Stewart's account, stating that Stewart is "not bitter at all" about the falling out. "There's no feud," Magrino said.

Martha Stewart and Ina Garten's Friendship Fallout: The Prison Sentence That Divided Them

However, Garten disputes Stewart's recollection of events. She told The New Yorker that she and Stewart had already begun to distance themselves before Stewart's prison sentence.

"I think it was just a matter of our lives going in different directions," Garten said. "She was spending a lot of time at her new place in Bedford, and I was spending more time out here in East Hampton."

Martha Stewart and Ina Garten's Friendship Fallout: The Prison Sentence That Divided Them

The pair's friendship dates back to the 1990s, when Stewart visited Garten's store, Barefoot Contessa, in East Hampton. Stewart later connected Garten with an editor, which led to the publication of Garten's first cookbook, "The Barefoot Contessa." Garten went on to star on her own cooking show, "Barefoot Contessa," from 2002 to 2021.

Despite their estrangement, Garten continues to praise Stewart's impact on the culinary world. In a 2017 interview with Time, Garten said:

Martha Stewart and Ina Garten's Friendship Fallout: The Prison Sentence That Divided Them

"I think she did something really important, which is that she took something that wasn’t valued, which is home arts, and raised it to a level that people were proud to do it, and that completely changed the landscape."

Garten also acknowledged the challenges Stewart faced after her prison sentence. "I think she's had a lot of challenges in her life, and I think she's come out of it stronger," Garten said.

While the exact reason for Stewart and Garten's falling out may never be fully known, it is clear that the two culinary icons have taken different paths in life. Stewart remains a successful businesswoman and lifestyle icon, while Garten continues to inspire countless home cooks through her recipes and television appearances.