In the wake of Martha Stewart’s recent Netflix documentary, which sheds light on her turbulent marriage to Andrew Stewart, his current wife, Shyla Nelson Stewart, has broken her silence to share a different perspective on the relationship.
The documentary, which premiered in late October, features Martha’s candid reflections on her marriage to Andrew, which ended in 1990 after nearly three decades. In a trailer for the film, Martha, 83, gives advice to younger women, urging them to leave a man who cheats, referring to them as “pieces of s—.” She also discusses the infidelities within her marriage, claiming that her husband had multiple affairs, including one on their own property.
However, Shyla, who married Andrew years after his separation from Martha, took to Facebook to set the record straight. In her post, she introduced herself as a quiet presence on social media but felt compelled to speak out on this matter. “As some of you know, my husband is Andrew Stewart—brilliant publisher, nature photographer, and one of the kindest, gentlest men I’ve ever known,” Shyla wrote. She also highlighted how they had met nearly twelve years ago and have since built a life filled with love, family, and purpose.
Shyla acknowledged Andrew’s painful past, including his previous marriage to Martha, but emphasized that this was a chapter long behind him. “Prior to this happy chapter of his life, Andy had some dark ones, including a painful and abusive marriage to Martha Stewart, which ended almost 40 years ago,” she said.
While Andrew has quietly moved forward, Shyla expressed concern over the way the past continues to be dredged up in the public eye. “It seems Martha continues to publicly relitigate the marriage,” she wrote, referring to the Netflix documentary. “While Andy quietly moved on with his life, Martha continues to portray him in a negative light.”
Shyla went on to contrast the man she knows with the version depicted in the film. “The juxtaposition of Andy’s early life with the joy-filled, purpose-led, loving marriage we live today is striking,” she shared. “Every day, we openly express our gratitude for our love and for our life together.”
Ending her post with a message of goodwill, Shyla wished everyone, including Martha, “the experience of loving and being loved deeply and fully, and the peace that comes from such a love.”
Martha’s documentary, simply titled Martha, presents a nuanced view of her personal and professional life, including the difficulties she faced in her marriage to Andrew. In interviews, Martha revealed that both she and Andrew had affairs during their marriage, with Andrew admitting he only strayed after learning of her infidelity. Kathy Tatlock, a close friend of Martha’s, also spoke about the relationship, claiming it was always strained, with the couple more like business partners than romantic partners.
Martha herself admitted to the tension, saying, “He treated me really badly. And, in return, I guess I treated him badly.”
Despite the open discussions about their troubled relationship, Shyla’s post is a reminder that the Stewart family has moved on and built lives filled with love and support. Both Shyla and Andrew’s focus remains on their present, not the past.
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