Gwyneth Paltrow Allegedly Sent Goop Employees a Harsh Message About Toilet Etiquette in the Office
Amy Odell's Gwyneth: The Biography alleges that the 52-year-old actress once apparently 'found pee on a toilet seat at the office' and wasted no time in calling it out on a public Slack channel.
More from SheKnows
Inside Gwyneth Paltrow & Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy's Reported Feud Back in the 90s
'Someone tinkled,' Paltrow allegedly wrote to employees, according to Odell's book. 'Make sure to clean up after yourselves, I'd appreciate it.'
Odell goes into more detail about the alleged dynamics behind the scenes at Paltrow's wellness company, which she founded in 2008 and still works there as CEO. Allegedly, many who 'worked up the nerve to go into her office' allegedly experienced 'impatience' and 'attitude.' Odell writes, 'If an employee replied to one of her emails with 'thanks' or 'on it,' she'd tell them not to send those emails, because they were a waste of time.'
Per the book, this hostile 'dynamic was subtle but damaging' within the company. 'Almost no one — Goop's board included — was willing to tell her no,' Odell claims.
Goop has long faced criticisms for its dubious pseudoscience, expensive items, and 'out of touch' marketing tactics. However, Odell writes that this was always part of the allure, noting that the brand was 'an odd window into her world and what it was like to have that money, that privilege and that lifestyle.'
'I think part of the appeal of Goop's wellness products and content was — I'll get one step closer to Gwyneth's beautiful life,' she wrote. 'But you can't buy Gwyneth's life. You can't buy that privilege.'
According to Odell, Paltrow has never been concerned about the backlash, and neither were 'Goop's board nor its investors.'
'This is what drove her to do the business. She thought, I'm going to research things, recommend things, and if you want to go traditional, go see your GP. That's not what I'm going to do. I'm not going to tell you to get a checkup,' a former Goop executive told Odell in the book.
Paltrow shared her response to the many criticisms of Goop in a 2011 Harper's Bazaar UK profile.
'There were a couple of times when I thought, 'I'm just gonna stop doing it. People are so mean to me. I don't want to do it,'' she shared, per New York Daily News. 'But then I was like, 'Who cares what some lame person out there says?' I was in Italy once, and this old man came up to me and said, 'I had the best time in Nashville because of Goop.' And that is so worth it to me.'Best of SheKnows
Tom Cruise's Full Dating History Is Filled With Many A-List Women
Who Is Pamela Anderson Dating? Inside Her Relationship History
All the Best Fashion Moments from Lindsay Lohan's Acting Comeback
Solve the daily Crossword
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Cosmopolitan
16 hours ago
- Cosmopolitan
Kelley Mack's cause of death revealed after emotional Instagram post says Walking Dead star has passed away aged 33
The Walking Dead star Kelley Mack has died aged 33. Mack, who played Addy in season nine of the hugely popular zombie-horror series, was diagnosed with diffuse midline glioma, a rare form of cancer, after complaining of persistent lower back pain in 2024. An MRI scan revealed an 'abnormal mass' on her spine. which led to Mack losing the use of both her legs. The actor's family confirmed Mack had passed away on her Instagram page. "It is with indelible sadness that we are announcing the passing of our dear Kelley," loved ones wrote. "Such a bright, fervent light has transitioned to the beyond, where we all eventually must go. "Kelley passed peacefully on Saturday evening with her loving mother Kristen and steadfast aunt Karen present. Kelley has already come to many of her loved ones in the form of various butterflies. "She will be missed by so many to depths that words cannot express." The statement went on to discuss a 'celebration of life' for the star. Many were quick to take to the comments to express their condolences for Mack's passing. American actress Alanna Masterson, who acted alongside Mack in The Walking Dead, wrote: "What an incredible human. So proud to have fought alongside her in our final episode together." Meanwhile, Gustavo Gomez, who played Marco in the hit series, added: "This is heartbreaking. I feel so lucky that our paths crossed. Your bright light will always shine on." Elsewhere, director Michael E Satrazemis, who worked alongside Mack, said: "I was lucky enough to create with Kelley on The Walking Dead. A bright light on every level. All my love to those who love her." Mack is survived by her mother and father, Kristen and Lindsay Klebenow, sister, Kathryn, brother Parker, and grandmother and grandfather Lois and Larry Klebenow. 'As her sister, I want you all to know how brave that tough SOB was, especially when she decided to make the leap to be reunited with God. I'm so f**king proud of her,' Kathryn wrote. Our thoughts are with her loved ones at this sad time. Kimberley Bond is a Multiplatform Writer for Harper's Bazaar, focusing on the arts, culture, careers and lifestyle. She previously worked as a Features Writer for Cosmopolitan UK, and has bylines at The Telegraph, The Independent and British Vogue among countless others.
Yahoo
17 hours ago
- Yahoo
Love her or hate her, you can't look away from Gwyneth Paltrow.
Author Amy Odell talks to Yahoo about our fascination with the star in her new book. For more than 30 years, she's occupied a unique space in the public eye, simultaneously adored and despised, revered and ridiculed. She's been an indie darling, an Oscar winner and a box office powerhouse. She also suggested women use a $66 vaginal egg and sold a candle that "smells like my vagina" via her wellness company Goop. Whether she's the subject of praise or criticism, Gwyneth Paltrow has always commanded attention — and for good reason. That duality of admiration and ire is at the core of what author Amy Odell explores in her new book Gwyneth: The Biography, out now. For Odell, understanding the true Gwyneth was no simple task, and even after three years of research, she tells me the full picture of the star remains elusive. The multihyphenate declined Odell's request for an interview. Instead, Odell relied on an extensive network of sources to piece together a more complete picture. Throughout her research, she interviewed more than 220 people — those who had worked with Gwyneth on films or at Goop. Even friends and former friends. What she discovered was a more layered understanding of the movie star, one that goes beyond her public image. Gwyneth's story is well-known. She grew up with a silver spoon, daughter of actress Blythe Danner and TV producer Bruce Paltrow, with Steven Spielberg as her godfather. Her personal life — marked by high-profile relationships and celebrity friends like Brad Pitt, Ben Affleck, and Chris Martin — has always fascinated the public. Professionally, she's constantly evolving. After the birth of her daughter Apple in 2004, which sparked media mockery, she stepped away from Hollywood to focus on new ventures, becoming a cookbook author and wellness guru. These transformations have made Gwyneth a magnet for attention, but also contribute to the paradox of her public image. Despite numerous interviews over the years, Odell felt they never captured Gwyneth's full complexity. "She's been profiled countless times, and yet… I felt like the many stories written about her barely scratched the surface of who she really is," Odell tells Yahoo. Gwyneth's ability to captivate stems from a mix of privilege, fame and constant reinvention. Despite her immense influence, she's never bridged the gap between her world and that of the average person. For Odell, this disconnection is key to understanding Gwyneth. Her upbringing and experiences shaped how she interacts with a world few can relate to. 'She doesn't know an average life' Gwyneth has never understood what it means to be normal. Bruce always traveled with his kids in first class. According to Odell's sources, he'd joke that his daughter didn't know how to turn right on an airplane, toward coach. When Danner, who didn't like flying with her kids in first class, once flew with Gwyneth, she was confused when they made that right-hand turn. "You mean — we're not flying first class?" Gwyneth asked her mother. 'We're flying no class?' It's one small example that encapsulates a larger truth about Gwyneth's upbringing: she has never known what it's like to be ordinary. According to Odell, living a "normal" life was something Gwyneth both feared and was fascinated by. "She's lived in such a rarefied world since she was born," Odell says. "She's always been surrounded by wealth, by movie stars, by people with power. She's never had to struggle in the ways that most people have.' Odell continues, 'When she tries to make comments that suggest she understands the average person's experience, it often comes off as out of touch." Case in point, Gwyneth told Elle UK in 2009, "I am who I am. I can't pretend to be somebody who makes $25,000 a year." Two years later, she said, "I'd rather smoke crack than eat cheese from a can." When Gwyneth makes comments like these, 'she's almost trying to get on the level of an average person," Odell says. 'She just can't quite do it because she doesn't know an average life. She never has." A polarizing public image Gwyneth has always provoked strong opinions. The first time Odell uses the word "polarizing" to describe her in the book is during Gwyneth's middle school years, when she attended the Spence School, a small all-girls private school in Manhattan. When Gwyneth arrived in seventh grade, her classmates had an immediate reaction: some wanted to hang out with this new, "interesting" person. Others felt threatened, but everyone knew who she was. If that reputation simmered behind the scenes, it didn't take too long for it to spill over into the public's perception. In the early '90s, Gwyneth's acting career was taking off, and she became a media darling. The press fawned over her as the "girl next door" with the talent to match. She quickly rose as one of Hollywood's most promising stars after hits like Se7en and Emma. "The praise she was receiving was just phenomenal. People were admiring her beauty, her acting talent, her poise," Odell says. But the author believes that it shifted after Gwyneth's Oscar win for Shakespeare in Love in 1999. Gwyneth stood onstage accepting her Academy Award for Best Actress in a pink Ralph Lauren gown, which she accessorized with a 40-carat diamond choker borrowed from Harry Winston. Her parents proudly looked on from the audience. Four days later, the New York Times reported Bruce and Danner had decided to buy their daughter the $160,000 necklace. The article included a quote from Winston official Carol Brodie, who recalled seeing the actress at an Oscars afterparty as she held her gold statue, beaming. After offering her congratulations, Brodie said Gwyneth responded, 'My daddy's buying me the necklace.' 'That was a turning point,' Odell says of the article. This moment marked a shift in how Gwyneth was covered in the press and how the public received her. Soon after, "people started writing stories about how she was so annoying, and questioning what this pampered girl did to deserve all the success," Odell says. "Suddenly, she was no longer the golden girl of Hollywood. Stories about her privilege began to emerge, especially surrounding her family's wealth and connections." But Gwyneth has never made any attempt to hide her wealth or privilege — if anything, she's embraced it. For some, this open acknowledgment is maddening. Love and privilege Her romances have also been far from average. There's only one person who can say they've dated Pitt, Affleck and Martin. But for Odell, it wasn't just the relationships themselves that intrigued the public; it was the way they highlighted the stark contrast between Gwyneth's world and the lives of the men she dated, especially Pitt. 'Gwyneth's relationships with Brad Pitt and Ben Affleck made her a part of the tabloid culture,' Odell says. 'Brad skyrocketed her into that world. But their backgrounds couldn't have been more different. Gwyneth grew up in a world of wealth, where movie stars and big names were part of her daily life. Brad, on the other hand, came from a small town in Missouri, from a family with a much more modest lifestyle. So when they were together, people saw a clash.' Her relationship with Pitt, from 1994 to 1997, was a media spectacle that thrust her into a different stratosphere of fame. This, combined with her growing influence in Hollywood, placed her squarely in the eye of a tabloid frenzy. But it also underscored a simmering tension. "She came from money, and he came from nothing. That was a dynamic that was always going to be difficult to navigate," Odell continues. 'I think the differences in their backgrounds played a major role in the dissolution of their relationship. She was acutely aware of it, and it caused friction. There were little things, like the fact that she would have to explain caviar to him. She was raised eating Beluga, and he had a very different upbringing. Certain things about Brad would bug Gwyneth, like when he was late, she couldn't stand that. She's very punctual." This division between their worlds became one of the reasons their relationship couldn't last. It wasn't just about material wealth; it was the way these contrasting lifestyles shaped their approach to life, fame and love. Her influence on wellness culture If people find Gwyneth someone they can't relate to, then her approach to Goop only deepens that gap. She has become a defining figure in the wellness industry, thanks largely to her brand, which is rooted in luxury, exclusivity and a promise of self-improvement that requires a level of financial and social capital most people simply don't have. 'Goop really set the standard for a modern wellness company,' Odell says. 'Gwyneth popularized the language of wellness — terms like 'toxins,' 'clean living' and 'clean beauty.' She gave the movement an aesthetic: a beautiful, aspirational lifestyle that people were willing to buy into. And she did something really important: she made wellness a luxury.' From a $32,000 mattress to $200 vitamins, Goop's offerings have faced criticisms as symbols of unattainable indulgence rather than a genuine effort to promote health. For many, it's a reminder that Gwyneth's life remains vastly different from their own. Since Goop launched in 2008, first as a weekly email and then as a website with e-commerce in 2014, critics have harped on how she allegedly peddled misinformation. In 2015, medical experts slammed the website for suggesting a too-tight bra may increase the risk of breast cancer. Three years later, the company settled a false advertising lawsuit for $145,000 over essential oils marketed as a depression remedy and jade and quartz eggs said to enhance women's sexual health. According to one source close to Gwyneth, the negative stories about Goop never seemed to bother her. 'I think Goop's legacy will be showing the world just how far people will go to achieve wellness, regardless of what science tells us,' Odell says. 'Goop popularized an entire language and culture of wellness. What's interesting is that, even though Goop has distanced itself from some of its more controversial products, the influence remains. People are still using the Goop model to push wellness trends, and they're doing it in even more extreme ways now.' Constantly reinventing Gwyneth's shift from actress to CEO remains one of her most impressive transformations, solidifying her influence beyond entertainment. Her ability to constantly reinvent herself has fueled her enduring relevance, with the latest example being her return to the big screen in December's Marty Supreme. 'Gwyneth has always been incredibly ambitious, but she's downplayed that side of her. What's interesting is that when I asked people about what motivates her, I got a range of answers,' Odell says. 'Some people say she's motivated by the fact that she can do it. Others say she wants to prove herself outside of acting, especially since she never got a college degree.' Odell speculates whether Gwyneth's return to acting is driven by passion or strategy to boost Goop's visibility, with her sources leaning toward the latter. "That's the question I would have liked to ask her," Odell says, referring to Gwyneth's motivations for the next chapter in her career. Whatever Gwyneth's next move may be, it will be something few can relate to. 'I think that what's really triggering to people about her,' Odell says. Solve the daily Crossword
Black America Web
3 days ago
- Black America Web
Cardi B Throws JBL Speaker at Rah Ali in France Airport
Source: Getty Images Some beefs just refuse to die and Cardi B's long-standing feud with Rah Ali is one of them. The two crossed paths once again, this time at an airport in Cannes, France. Cardi took to X (Twitter) Spaces to break down her side of the story, revealing she threw a JBL speaker at Rah during a moment inside a private lounge. Cardi said it started when she realized Rah was also at the airport, seated in a wheelchair looking sick. At first, Cardi says she genuinely asked what was wrong. But when Rah didn't really respond to her, she claims things shifted. 'She's staring at me like she want [it],' Cardi said. 'So that's when I threw a JBL speaker on her head.' According to Cardi, the moment felt like payback for their infamous 2018 altercation at New York Fashion Week, where Rah allegedly hit her while backing Nicki Minaj. Cardi left that event with a knot on her head and hasn't forgotten or forgiven. RELATED: Cardi B & Rah Ali Back Beefing, Exchange Insults & Take Shots At Marriages 'I can't live and die knowing that somebody put their hands on me and I never did nothing back,' she said. 'I'm from the Bronx. You know what's up.' Rah Ali tells a different story. She says she was being wheeled through the airport when Cardi spotted her and started going off — yelling, accusing her of hiding behind the internet, and throwing items. Rah says she stayed seated, trying to keep things from escalating. 'I will always be ready to protect myself at all cost,' Rah later posted on X. 'But had anyone in this world hit ME in my head with a speaker, you'd be seeing footage of me in handcuffs. I promise to God that did not happen.' Rah also sat down with Ray Daniels on his podcast, where she said she's never gloated about the 2018 incident and was shocked Cardi is still this angry. 'This is three kids later,' Rah said. 'Grow up.' But Cardi made it clear that she felt she handled it the only way she knows how. 'I felt good after throwing it,' she said. 'That was enough for me.' Security intervened before anything else could pop off, and no one was arrested. The Original Fight The Cardi and Rah tension goes back to September 2018, during a Harper's Bazaar afterparty at New York Fashion Week. That's where things got physical between Cardi and Nicki Minaj's team. Cardi stormed out barefoot with a visible knot on her head. Rah Ali was rumored to be the one who laid hands on her that night, but she's stayed mostly quiet about it… Until now. SEE ALSO Cardi B Throws JBL Speaker at Rah Ali in France Airport was originally published on
