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EgyptAir has backed a writer who authored a bizarre article purportedly based on an interview with Hollywood star Drew Barrymore, and is standing its ground following accusation the Q&A was fake.

The article, which appeared in EgyptAir's Horus inflight magazine, went viral after a passenger travelling with the airline tweeted about it.

In a tweet sent late on Wednesday in response to online criticism, the national carrier thanked author Aida Takla O'Reilly for "the clarification" in which she claimed the interview was indeed real, and took place in New York.

Barrymore has yet to issue an official statement, however her team confirmed to The Huffington Post that she "did not participate" in the interview.

The article features a number of odd observations about Barrymore's private life, opening with a blurb that states she has had "almost 17 relationships, engagements and marriages".

The writer suggests this "[psychologists see this behaviour as] only natural since she lacked the male role model in her life after her parents' divorce when she was only nine".

Author Aida Tekla (sic) - identified by EgyptAir as Dr Aida Takla-O'Reilly, head of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association - is also quoted as telling Barrymore that she "gained several kilograms" after giving birth, with fans accusing the actor of "being overweight" and "neglecting [her] health".

Barrymore is also quoted as celebrating women's achievements in "the West", because they handle tasks that men cannot.

"Women exert tremendous efforts that men are incapable of exerting due to their numerous commitments and obligations," the article quoted her as saying.

EgyptAir's inflight magazine has Arabic and English sections, but translations are often poor and English-language articles are riddled with errors.

In recent years, the Egyptian government has waged a heavy crackdown on dissent and independent media, recently passing vaguely worded laws that criminalise the spreading of false news.