Warning: Contains SPOILERS for Martha
Netflix’s documentaryMartha, exploring the life and career of Martha Stewart, exposed several revelations about the relationships between Stewart and those that she was close to, including her former best friend, Mariana Pasternak. The two became friends after meeting in Westport, Connecticut, and remained close as Martha began to gain new levels of fame. Stewart even served as maid of honor at Pasternak’s wedding and as godmother to her children.In Netflix’s documentary, which Martha Stewart herself has now criticized, Stewart lays out the moment when their seemingly strong friendship came to an end.
The lifestyle guru has had a very famous, decades-long career which saw the high point of her becoming thefirst female American to have a net worth of $1 billion, and the low point of aconviction for insider trading in 2004. Stewart’s conviction in the ImClone trial is a moment in whichMarthatakes time to reflect on how Stewart’s relationships were impacted by the trial and her conviction. In particular, Martha Stewart’s longtime friend,Mariana Pasternak, played a key role in ensuring that the homemaking icon was ultimately found guilty.
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Stewart’s Longtime Friend Helped Seal Her Conviction
In Netflix’s documentary, Martha Stewart recalls how, while on vacation with Mariana Pasternak, she received a call from her broker to sell her shares of ImClone stock, though she maintains that she did not have any further information at that time as to why she was advised to sell. However, during the trial several years later, Mariana Pasternak came forward as a witness and claimed that Stewart had commented to her:“Isn’t it nice to have brokers who tell you those things?”
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This statement served as the final nail in the coffin of Stewart’s trial because it showed the court that she had prior knowledge of ImClone stock’s impending decline in value. According to a quote given by Pasternak inMartha, she told the truth in court because it was the right thing to do, but,when Pasternak saw Martha’s face across the courtroom, she knew that their friendship was over.
Where Is Mariana Pasternak Now?
Pasternak Revealed All In A Memoir About Her Life With Martha
Though Pasternak knew that her friendship with Martha Stewart was over after the trial, the story does not end there.In 2011, she released a memoir titledThe Best of Friends: Martha and Medetailing her relationship with the lifestyle star. The book outlined the beginning of their friendship, their travels, and the information that they shared in confidence. However, the memoir also shares how their friendship had already begun to unravel leading up to the trial. Ultimately, the memoir sheds light not just on the trial and the troubles, but also on the positive aspects of their friendship, for all the world to see.
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Apart from the recognition that Pasternak gained in the 2000s from being Martha Stewart’s best friend, and later the person who helped seal her conviction, Mariana Pasternak has led a quiet life. Pasternak has two daughters. She also continues to live in Connecticut, where she works as a real estate agent. While Netflix’s documentaryMarthashows the breakdown of their relationship, it also highlights how central Pasternak is to the story.
Martha
Cast
Martha is a candid documentary exploring the life of lifestyle icon Martha Stewart. It chronicles her ascent, dramatic challenges, and triumphant return, providing insight into her personal and professional journey through her own narration.
