Drew Sets Up Two Singles for a Backstage Date!

Relationships

Can't wait to see how this turns out!

Not only is Drew a daytime host, actress, mother, (and newly NY Times best-selling cookbook author!), she is also a magnificent matchmaker! After starring in countless rom-coms throughout her life, Drew put skills to use by matching up two extra-special first responder audience members in Seven Segments in Heaven! Watch the sparks fly during the show and read on to see how their backstage date went!

Malaki Barnett is a fireman for the Tulsa Oklahoma Fire Department. His last relationship ended prior to the pandemic, and when the pandemic hit it was almost impossible for him to meet anyone.
 
After spending a lot of time being buried in work, Malaki is ready to try creative ways to find love. He even modeled in the Tulsa Fire Department's steamy annual calendar. Still, while his fellow pinups got dates as a result, none of his own calendar fans manifested into real-life dates!
 
Drew searched far and wide to find the perfect candidate to go out on a date with Malaki, and she sure found one in Shadiyah Turner. Also hailing from Oklahoma, Shadiyah loves volunteering at her local retirement home. In her free time, she is teaching herself to play the ukulele and plays Princess Tiana at little kids’ birthday parties. Shadiyah has been struggling to find her real-life prince, and, turns out, she loves a man in uniform!
 
Backstage, Drew designed the perfect date incorporating Malaki and Shadiyah’s favorite activities: baking and creating music!
 
With electric candle lights to set the mood, Malaki and Shadiyah were set up for success by their fairy rom-commothers at The Drew Barrymore Show. Malaki loves baking, so they were given a full cookie decorating kit! And let’s just say sweet talk pairs well with sweet treats in a recipe for flirtation!

Malaki Barnett & Shadiyah Turner
With electric candle lights to set the mood, Malaki and Shadiyah were set up for success by their fairy rom-commothers at The Drew Barrymore Show. Malaki loves baking, so they were given a full cookie decorating kit! And let’s just say sweet talk pairs well with sweet treats in a recipe for flirtation!

 

Malaki Barnett & Shadiyah Turner
Malaki and Shadiyah shared lots of laughs getting to know each other as they decorated. 

 

Malaki Barnett & Shadiyah Turner

 

Malaki Barnett & Shadiyah Turner
Shadiyah loves playing music, so their greenroom cupids provided Malaki and Shadiyah with adorable ukeleles! Our heartstrings are humming just like those ukes! Shadiyah even taught Malaki to hold the instrument and play a few notes! (Talk about a real-life rom-com moment!)

 

Malaki Barnett & Shadiyah Turner
At the end of their date, Malaki walked Shadiyah to her car (such a gentleman!).

 

Malaki Barnett
The big smile on his face seems like they made a beautiful memory together (and maybe even found a special connection)!

We hope they find love and look brightly toward the future, whether together romantically or as newfound friends!