Lies About Martha Stewart - And One Surprising Truth

Feminista is stunned that she and Martha have so much in common.

By Michelle B. Taylor

I’m not sure if, as a society, we have grown more interested in the personal lives of celebrities or if we have always had the curiosity, but lacked the access. With the advent of the internet and social media, we have more insight into celebrities than ever before and it doesn’t seem like our interest in the inner workings of their lives is going away any time soon. All I know is that when tea is being spilled, we are plugged in, popcorn in hand.

If you need a fix of hot scalding drama and gossip, the Netflix documentary Martha (2024), directed by R.J. Cutler, will fill your cup to the brim! I don’t think I was ready for everything I learned and I don’t know if you are either.

Martha Stewart is a business. Yes, she is an intelligent, strong, powerful woman, but she is also very much a brand. This documentary takes us behind the scenes of her life as well as her meteoric rise that took her straight to billionaire status. The Martha Stewart we saw on television, and whose books reminded us that we are poor, and whose products we bought to raise our pinkies and feel fancy, were only a fraction of who she truly is. I think it’s safe to say, at this point, that a lot of it was a facade. “She’s a hustler and she’s shrewd as hell,” said one of the commentators about Stewart, and that’s about as accurate a description as one can give.

Her story resonated deeply with me because while I’m broke as hell, I have more in common with Stewart than I realized. She’s been done dirty by a man she deeply loved. Her husband cheated on her so much you’d think there was a BOGO sale on infidelity. She has little patience when it comes to getting things done correctly, and I felt her intolerance of inefficiency deep down in my bones. She cusses a lot, knows when she is right and when others are wrong and isn’t afraid to say it.

If you’ve watched any other Netflix documentaries recently, you’ll note there’s a particular approach producers have taken (Black Barbie being the most recent comparison). There’s a mix of interviews with Stewart and the people who know her best—whether they love her or hate her—combined with storybook narration that’s more favorable towards Stewart, and a bit of animation to fill in some reenactment gaps. They’re trying to tell a complete story with minimal distractions, yet I found myself distracted by how it felt more like a biopic than a documentary.

At one point, the camera keeps rolling while she’s "off-camera," allowing us to see her interaction with the production team. However, this seemed intended to exemplify a particular point about her alleged attitude. I say “alleged” because I don’t see much wrong with how she addresses the incompetent people she finds herself surrounded by. Sure, she could probably add a few “lols” to her texts but does she have to? She’s Martha Stewart, for fuck’s sake!! You get an opportunity to work with the queen of all things house and home and you use the wrong knife? That’s on you. #TeamMartha.

“She is the mother of reinvention,” is right! The documentary explores how Stewart became embroiled in an insider trading scandal that was, essentially, insignificant. It suggests she faced harsher treatment because she was a wealthy, female celebrity. The documentary also tells us that James Comey seems to have a deep hatred of successful women and that he was one of many haters who seemed hellbent on humbling Stewart. Many remember her going to jail and emerging with a new image, a new show she hated, and unexpected friendships, including one with rapper Snoop Dogg. Then she did the thirst trap spread and had to remind people exactly who she is--at 82, she showed us she is still a stunning, sexy, sensual badass business owner.

I loved this documentary and I think you will too. Stewart’s vulnerability peeks through when she talks about her love life and the betrayals she’s endured. But she snaps back and straightens up her spine like she didn’t expect to get that deep. At times, you can tell she is guarded. Ultimately, this documentary functions less as an exposé (though tea is definitely spilled) and more as a way for Stewart to remind us that she is that girl and her legacy is legendary. I’m here for it, whatever the motivation. I think you’ll enjoy this. Have you seen it? What do you think?