Sophia Michaels
Those who watched the Netflix show “Martha” are likely aware that Martha Stewart’s romantic past is far from idyllic. It features many heart-wrenching moments, and Martha herself has openly shared her feelings of devastation following significant heartbreaks. Interestingly, she also displays a level of detachment regarding her relationships.
During a candid moment in the documentary, she revealed that she has never been in a relationship where she openly discussed her feelings with her partner. Without hesitation, she stated that this kind of dialogue does not appeal to her. Her nonchalant attitude suggests that she may not have pursued many serious connections because of this outlook.
However, it would be misleading to say Martha has never had serious relationships. In fact, she was married to Andrew Stewart for nearly 30 years and later had a prominent romance with Charles Simonyi, both of which concluded unsuccessfully for her.
Martha married her husband against her father’s wishes
In the documentary, Martha recounted falling deeply in love with Andrew Stewart during her college years, largely due to his kindness—a stark contrast to her incredibly strict father. She shared a moment from their engagement when her father reacted violently upon learning of her intentions. Despite the slap and his bigoted disapproval of Andrew’s Jewish heritage, Martha proceeded to marry him.
Even from the start, the relationship faced challenges. During part of their honeymoon, Martha had a striking experience at the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore. Moved by the beauty of the cathedral, she shared an impulsive kiss with a stranger but did not view it as unfaithfulness, seeing it as a mere emotional moment.
Both Andrew and Martha Stewart had affairs
Martha’s encounter at the Duomo was only one of the complexities in her marriage. She openly discussed Andrew’s numerous affairs following their relocation to Westport, and expressed regret for not ending their relationship sooner upon realizing his unfaithfulness. She offered a stern warning to young women, advocating for self-respect if faced with infidelity.
In an unexpected twist, Martha also confessed to having a brief affair during her time as a stockbroker, which she regarded as insignificant and not worthy of affecting any marriage. Although she claimed she never told Andrew about it, the documentary hinted that Andrew’s affairs began after her revelation.
The insights in “Martha” weren’t the first look into the couple’s infidelities; previous accounts indicated variations in Martha’s Duomo story, leaving some doubt about the circumstances surrounding her kiss with the stranger.
