Ina garten hits back at martha stewart’s claim they fell out when she ‘went to jail’: ‘her story isn’t exactly accurate’

Ina Garten is setting the record straight. The Food Network star, 76, addressed her fallout with Martha Stewart, 83, after the latter claimed Garten stopped talking to her after she “went to

jail” in 2004. Speaking at a live Q&A with People on Dec. 5, the TV cook said Stewart’s claim isn’t true. “Well, let’s just say her story isn’t exactly accurate,” Garten responded when

asked about Stewart’s accusation about their estranged friendship. “And, you know, that was 25 years ago,” she said while laughing. “I think it’s time to let it go.” EXPLORE MORE The Post

reached out to Stewart’s rep for comment. The famous chefs’ friendship goes back to the ’90s. After the two met in the Hamptons, N.Y., Garten began writing a column for Martha Stewart

Living. That led to Stewart bringing a publisher to Garten’s food store, The Barefoot Contessa, which led to Ina inking her first book deal, per People. Garten, who recently released a

memoir called “Be Ready When the Luck Happens, told The New Yorker in Sept. that she lost touch with Stewart when she moved to Connecticut as Martha stayed in New York. However, Stewart’s

recollection is a little different. “When I was sent off to Alderson Prison, she stopped talking to me,” the lifestyle doyenne previously recalled. Martha doubled down on her accusations on

an Oct. episode of “Watch What Happens Live” with Andy Cohen, which also featured her “Martha & Snoop’s Potluck Dinner Party” co-star Snoop Dogg, 53. When Cohen, 56, asked Stewart

whether she had read Garten’s book, the “Martha” star admitted she read the parts where her name was mentioned. “She can write whatever she wants,” the home guru claimed. When Snoop asked

them to clarify what Garten wrote about Stewart, Cohen informed him of her Connecticut claim. “That’s not true,” Stewart interrupted, adding they allegedly stopped talking “after I went to

jail.” “That’s when I stepped in,” the rapper responded after coming to his co-star’s defense. “Martha don’t fall out with people,” Snoop said during the segment. Stewart was sent to

Alderson Federal Prison Camp in 2004 after being convicted of conspiracy, obstruction and two counts of lying to federal investigators. She was released from prison after five months and

began her career comeback. Stewart previously told The New Yorker in an interview published on Sept. 9, that she found Garten’s cut-off “extremely distressing and extremely unfriendly,” with

her manager telling the outlet that Martha is “not bitter at all” about the fallout. Garten “firmly” denied Stewart’s story at the time. When it comes to a reconciliation, Stewart said she

wouldn’t be holding her breath. “She’s into her own thing. That’s okay,” Stewart told People at the premiere of her Netflix documentary, “Martha,” in Sept.