Drew Barrymore and Jennifer Aniston‘s friendship was put to the test in an unexpected on-air moment. While filming a “The Drew Barrymore Show” segment on March 28 alongside Aniston and their friend Adam Sandler, Barrymore, 48, experienced her first hot flash associated with perimenopause. “I am so hot, I think I’m having my first perimenopause hot flashes,” Barrymore said in a clip from their segment (3:30) as she began fanning herself. “For the first time, I think I’m having my first hot flash. Whoa!”
“I either had my first perimenopause hot flash or got really excited.”
As Barrymore removed her blazer, Aniston leaned in to help adjust her mic and hold back her hair. “I’m so sorry, do you feel this?” Barrymore asked, referring to the sudden feeling of warmth that spread through her chest. While Aniston pointed out that it was likely internal heat, Barrymore joked that the excitement of seeing two of her best celebrity friends might have sparked the full-body reaction. “Or maybe I’m just that excited,” she said as Sandler held her hand, confirming that she felt warm.
The same day, Barrymore shared a sneak peek of the moment on Instagram, expressing a similar sentiment in the caption. “I either had my first perimenopause hot flash or got really excited to see @jenniferaniston and @adamsandler! Maybe both?” she wrote.
Hot flashes typically last anywhere from 30 seconds to five minutes, according to Mayo Clinic. The symptom usually affects women in their 40s or mid-30s as their bodies naturally transition to menopause, marking the end of the reproductive years, per the clinic’s website. Other common symptoms of hot flashes also include a flushed appearance with red, blotchy skin; perspiration; rapid heartbeat; and feelings of anxiety.
A week before the on-air incident, Barrymore spoke with Gayle King about her personal experience with perimenopause. “I realized that I was in perimenopause when I started having my period every two weeks,” Barrymore explained during the “Facing Fertility” series on CBS Mornings. “One doctor also just told me this could last, in the worst-case scenario, 10 years. And I was like, I will never make it 10 years like this!”
King and Barrymore went on to discuss the stigma associated with discussing menopause. “The way menopause has been branded is, ‘You’re old, you’re done.’ That’s not it,” Barrymore said. In sharing their own experiences, the pair hope to expand the narrative around perimenopause and encourage others to do the same.
While Barrymore didn’t expect to have her first hot flash on air, she was glad her friends were there to support her. Joking, she said, “Well, I’m so glad I have this moment documented.”