Shyla Nelson Stewart, the wife of Andrew Stewart, has addressed the claims made in Martha Stewart’s recent Netflix documentary, particularly in relation to the film’s trailer. In the lead-up to the documentary’s release on October 30, Shyla shared a statement on Facebook, signed by both herself and Andrew, in response to the trailer’s content.
In the preview, Martha Stewart, 83, gave advice to young women, telling them that if their husbands cheat, “he’s a piece of s—.” Shyla prefaced her remarks by noting that she is not active on other social media platforms and would only be commenting on the matter via Facebook.
Shyla describes her husband Andrew Stewart as a gentle and kind-hearted man in response to Martha’s remarks
In her post, dated October 12, Shyla wrote about Andrew, describing him as a “brilliant publisher, avocational naturalist and nature photographer, and one of the gentlest, most soft-spoken, kind-hearted men I’ve ever known.”
She also explained that she and Andrew had known each other for nearly 12 years, first meeting as colleagues. Andrew and Martha were married for nearly three decades, from 1961 to 1990, and have one daughter, Alexis, born in 1965.
Shyla continued by emphasizing the life she and Andrew have built together. “Andy and I have created a life filled with beauty, meaning, and purpose, grounded in true love,” she wrote. “We share our joy with our five amazing adult children, three grandchildren, extended family, and many cherished friends.”
However, Shyla did acknowledge that Andrew’s past, including his marriage to Martha, involved difficulties. “Before this wonderful chapter, Andy had a dark period, including a painful and abusive marriage to Martha Stewart, which ended nearly 40 years ago,” she shared.
She expressed that while Andrew had moved forward quietly, Martha seemed intent on revisiting their past, mentioning the upcoming documentary. “It appears that Martha continues to relitigate their marriage publicly, including in the sensationalized trailer for her documentary,” Shyla wrote.
Shyla also reflected on the stark contrast between the man she knows and the portrayal of him in the film. “The contrast between Andy’s early life and the loving, fulfilling marriage we have today is remarkable,” she said. “We express our gratitude for each other and the life we share every day.”
In closing, Shyla offered a wish for everyone, including Martha, to experience love and peace. “I hope everyone, including Martha, experiences the depth of love and the peace that comes from it.”
Martha’s representative did not respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment on November 7. In the documentary, Martha admits that both she and Andrew had affairs during their marriage. According to Andrew, he did not cheat until he discovered Martha had done so first.
Kathy Tatlock, a friend of the couple, described their relationship as strained, citing Andrew’s busy work schedule and Martha’s critical nature. “Andy was always busy with his publishing work, and when he was around, there was tension,” she recalled.
“Martha would criticize him, whether it was about his clothing or his manner of speaking. Over time, their relationship became more professional than personal. They were more like colleagues than life partners, and there was increasing friction.” Martha herself added, “He treated me really badly. And, in return, I guess I treated him badly.”
