Is Martha Stewart the Mentor From Hell? Actress Blake Lively was looking to follow in Stewart's footsteps in launching her own lifestyle company. Stewart's response? 'Let her try.'

By Geoff Weiss

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

As far as mentors go, Martha Stewart's approach may be less "tough love" than it is bloodthirsty rage.

The notoriously prickly multimedia empress cast a dubious eye on a fellow entrepreneur seeking to follow in her footsteps. Case in point: Her response to the fact that actress Blake Lively is attempting to transition from entertainment to business through the launch of her own lifestyle company, Preserve? "Let her try."

"I mean, it's stupid, she could be an actress! Why would you want to be me if you could be an actress?" Stewart told The Huffington Post.

So much for extending a helpful hand.

Related: Here's Why Martha Stewart Bought a Drone

What makes the comments particularly cutting is the fact that Lively expressly named Stewart as her "idol" in a Vogue cover story announcing Preserve, a website and e-tailer championing homespun and handcrafted fashions, foods and curios.

"She's one of those people who connect people with each other," Lively said of Stewart. "She's there for you."

While Stewart is not the first to criticize Preserve -- which has been mocked for being self-aggrandizing, oddly-designed and economically out of touch -- her response illuminates a telling lesson learned by many business makers on the path to starting up: that our biggest heroes can often turn out to be our cruelest detractors.

Related: 7 Ways to Pick Someone's Brain Without Being a Pest

Geoff Weiss

Former Staff Writer

Geoff Weiss is a former staff writer at Entrepreneur.com.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Thought Leaders

Cultural Fit Can Make or Break an M&A Deal

One of the most critical components for success -- cultural fit -- often falls by the wayside.

Leadership

7 Telltale Signs of a Weak Leader

Whether a bully or a people pleaser who can't tell hard truths, poor leadership takes many forms.

Business Ideas

70 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2025

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2025.

Marketing

I've Sold More Than $18,000,000 in Products and Services Using This "Big" Marketing Strategy

This one single thing can be the difference between a home-run marketing campaign and one that flops.