Martha Stewart Critiques Director RJ Cutler Over Netflix Doc Edits, Rap Music Omission, and “Lonely” Garden Scenes.

 

Martha Stewart shared her mixed feelings about her recent Netflix documentary, Martha, directed by R.J. Cutler. While the media icon delved deeply into her life for the project, she wasn’t entirely pleased with the outcome, specifically calling out scenes she felt misrepresented her.

Reflecting on the documentary’s final scenes, Stewart expressed her frustration with Cutler for including shots that portrayed her as “a lonely old lady walking hunched over in the garden.” Stewart told The New York Times, “I told him to get rid of those, and he refused. I hate those last scenes. Hate them.”

Despite her criticism, Stewart said she appreciated “the first half of the documentary,” though she was less enthusiastic about the second half, which focused on her insider trading trial and prison time. Stewart downplayed that period, saying, “The trial and actual incarceration were less than two years out of an 83-year life. I considered it a vacation, to tell you the truth. The trial was extremely boring; even the judge fell asleep, but R.J. didn’t put that in. I wrote it in my diary every day.”

Another disappointment for Stewart was the limited use of her personal archive, which left out mentions of her grandchildren. She also critiqued the documentary’s soundtrack, noting that she’d requested rap music—a genre she felt resonated more with her. Stewart explained, “I said to R.J., ‘An essential part of the film is that you play rap music.’ I suggested Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, or Fredwreck. But instead, he went with a classical score that has nothing to do with me.”

Yet despite her critiques, Stewart acknowledged the positive impact the documentary has had, especially on young women. “So many girls have told me that watching it gave them strength they didn’t know they had,” she said, emphasizing that the film ultimately “shows a strong woman standing up for herself.”

In response, Cutler noted that he’s proud of the film and admires Stewart’s trust in him, recognizing it might be difficult for her to see certain aspects portrayed on screen. "Martha is a movie, not a Wikipedia page,” he said, highlighting his aim to capture “an incredibly interesting human being who is complicated and visionary.”