Ina Garten is clearing the air. The 76-year-old Food Network star has responded to Martha Stewart's claim that their friendship ended after Stewart's 2004 jail stint. During a live Q&A with People on December 5, Garten refuted Stewart's assertion, stating, "Well, let's just say her story isn't exactly accurate." She added, "And, you know, that was 25 years ago. I think it's time to let it go."

The Post sought comment from Stewart's representative. The renowned chefs' friendship dates back to the 1990s. After meeting in the Hamptons, Garten started writing a column for Martha Stewart Living. This connection led Stewart to introduce a publisher to Garten's food store, The Barefoot Contessa, which eventually resulted in Garten securing her first book deal, according to People.

Garten, who recently published a memoir titled "Be Ready When the Luck Happens," told The New Yorker in September that she lost touch with Stewart when she moved to Connecticut, while Martha remained in New York. However, Stewart's version of events differs. "When I was sent off to Alderson Prison, she stopped talking to me," Stewart previously recounted. She reiterated this on an October episode of "Watch What Happens Live" with Andy Cohen, where she was joined by her "Martha & Snoop's Potluck Dinner Party" co-star, Snoop Dogg.

Cohen asked Stewart if she had read Garten's book, to which the "Martha" star admitted she read the sections mentioning her name. "She can write whatever she wants," Stewart asserted. When Snoop inquired about what Garten wrote about Stewart, Cohen relayed the Connecticut claim. "That's not true," Stewart interjected, adding they allegedly stopped talking "after I went to jail." Snoop came to Stewart's defense, saying, "That's when I stepped in. Martha don't fall out with people."

Stewart was incarcerated at Alderson Federal Prison Camp in 2004 following convictions for conspiracy, obstruction, and lying to federal investigators. She was released after five months and resumed her career. Stewart told The New Yorker on September 9 that she found Garten's cutoff "extremely distressing and extremely unfriendly," with her manager stating Martha is "not bitter at all" about the fallout. Garten "firmly" denied Stewart's story at the time.

Regarding a potential 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 September.

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