Martha Stewart, the queen of crafting a cozy home, doesn’t often spill the beans about her personal life. But in her Netflix documentary released in October 2024, she dives deep into some of the darkest moments of her life, including her split from her ex-husband Andrew Stewart. If you're curious about how this iconic figure went from a housewife to a household name, you're about to get an inside look.
Andrew Stewart isn't just another face in the crowd. A Yale alumnus, he's made a name for himself in the publishing world. Currently, he holds the title of Publisher Emeritus at Fieldstone Publishing. If you're wondering what that means, think of it as a position of honor and respect within the industry. He's not actively running the company anymore, but his influence and legacy remain strong.
Love, or at least this story, started with a blind date. Picture this: it’s the early 60s, and Martha and Andrew are in their early twenties. Andrew was still a student at Yale when they were set up. Talk about a match made in Ivy League heaven! Back then, neither of them could have guessed that their union would lead to one of the most iconic names in lifestyle branding.
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Martha and Andrew tied the knot in 1961, long before Martha became the household name we know today. They both had big dreams back then—Martha wanted to make her mark in the world, and Andrew was focused on his career in publishing. What neither of them foresaw was that Martha would become a global celebrity. They were married for 25 years before things took a turn for the worse.
In a candid interview with New York Magazine, Martha revealed, “He helped me a lot; I admit it. I helped him a lot also and he forgets that.” She also shared her thoughts on their separation, saying, “Well, I did a lot. I think he got tired of my drive and desire to do lots of things.” It’s clear that their paths diverged as their ambitions grew.
Martha and Andrew share one child, their daughter Alexis, born in 1965. In her 2024 documentary, Martha opened up about her experience as a mother, admitting that it wasn’t as natural as she initially thought. She reflected on the societal pressures of the time, saying, “Back then, everyone was having babies so young. That was the trend, the habit. I thought being a mother would come naturally, but it turns out, it’s not at all easy.”
Martha further explained, “Feelings, we didn’t talk about stuff like that. That wasn’t part of our upbringing. We were loved, but in a distant way. I mean, there wasn’t a lot of affection in our house.” She questioned her ability to be the best mother she could be, saying, “How could I be a really great mother if I didn’t have the education to be one?”
Martha and Andrew's 25-year marriage came to an end in 1987, finalized three years later. During their final years together, Martha discovered Andrew's affair with her assistant, Robyn Fairclough. Ironically, Martha had opened her guest house to Robyn, only to find out it became the site of their affair when she was away on business trips.
When confronted, Andrew admitted to the affair, but Martha was ready to fight for their marriage. However, in her documentary, Martha revealed that Andrew was already on board for a divorce. Producers uncovered that Andrew claimed he only started cheating after learning about Martha's infidelity. Martha admitted to kissing a man during her honeymoon and having a brief affair with an Irish man in the 1960s, though she insists Andrew was unaware.
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Martha explained in the documentary, “He was not satisfied at home. I don’t know how many different girlfriends he had during this time, but I think there were quite a few.”
Andrew didn’t waste much time after his divorce. He married Robyn Fairclough in 1993, despite the 21-year age gap. However, their union didn’t last forever. Andrew later found love with his third wife, Shyla Nelson Stewart, whom he married in 2016. They remain together as of this writing.