Drew Fires Back at Howard Stern

By C. Young

Thursday October 25, 2001 01:00 PM EDT

Calling herself "a total dork, loser, geek, humble freakazoid," Drew Barrymore has nonetheless summoned the courage to shoot back at radio ranter Howard Stern. Stern had taken a very public shot at Barrymore during Paul McCartney's nationally televised benefit concert in New York last week. "I just want to say one thing to all the celebrities who have stayed away from New York," he said. "I say shame on you. Come back to New York. Don't run. Don't hide. People like Drew Barrymore. Don't be afraid, honey. It ain't scary here. I mean, it can't be any worse than spending the night with Tom Green alone." In an interview with Elizabeth Vargas of ABC News, Barrymore, 26, pointed out that she continued to rehearse and that she hosted "Saturday Night Live" after anthrax had been discovered at NBC. "If I'm honest about my feelings, I was still brave in the end, so I don't know what's wrong with that," said the "Driving in Cars with Boys" star. "I just didn't understand the foundation for it, because I did go . . . I just stayed and did it and then, when it was time to go home and it was done, I went home." Accusing Stern of making a living by "being mean to other people," she added, "I just don't even go to the mean kids' area in that playground."