Gwyneth’s new energy… and it’s not coming from bone broth
BARELY A MONTH after being declared ‘Gwynnocent’ by a Utah jury during the ski accident trial of the century, Gwyneth Paltrow is back. After what must have been a daunting slew of interview requests following the meme-inducing performance the 50-year-old actor and entrepreneur gave on the witness stand, it was interesting that Gwyneth decided to give her first postcourt interview to a certain Alex Cooper and the Call Her Daddy podcast.
During the 53-minute interview with the Gen Z favourite, we saw a side of Gwyneth that’s not always visible in the wellness guru. Asked about her famous exes and whether Brad Pitt or Ben Affleck is better in bed, Gwyneth laughed at what she called a ‘really hard’ choice. Though she had ‘major chemistry, love-of-your-life’ sort of sex with Pitt, she said the sex with Affleck was ‘technically excellent’. One thing about this interview was clear: Gwyneth is opening up – and it’s no accident.
According to a well-placed Hollywood source, Gwyneth is well aware of the PR roller coaster she has been on this year. First an interview she gave on The Art Of Being Well With Dr Cole podcast went viral, for all the wrong reasons. In the filmed interview, during which she was attached to an IV vitamin drip, Gwyneth described her diet as a mix of intermittent fasting and practices that ‘support her detox’; meaning coffee in the morning, bone broth at lunch and a paleo meal at dinner. Once the interview had circulated, Gwyneth was lambasted for promoting such joyless, not to mention potentially harmful, habits. Jameela Jamil urged us not to listen to celebrities talking about their diets, claiming that ‘most of them have some sort of disordered eating’, while body positivity activist Tess Holliday accused Gwyneth of ‘glorifying’ eating disorders.
But then came the ski trial, which saw Gwyneth swing from zero to internet hero, thanks to her deadpan delivery, faultless wardrobe and cutting, ‘I wish you well,’ to her accuser Terry Sanderson as she swept from the courtroom after winning her $1 counterclaim.
Now, says the source, Gwyneth is keen to harness the positive power of this ‘new’ Gwyneth. Starting with Call Her Daddy. ‘It was a big departure for Gwyneth to do an interview like this, but after people got to see her more comical side during the trial (albeit unintentional at times) it has certainly influenced her strategy going forward,’ said the source. ‘Gwyneth has already succeeded at making Goop the lifestyle brand of its generation, this has come from years of hard work.’ Now, says the source, Gwyneth is ready to have fun. ‘She’s happy to open up more, even if that means distancing herself from some of the more uptight wellness associations. Gwyneth has been the butt of a lot of jokes thanks to Goop – now she wants to harness the internet’s obsession with her.’ If this means we’ll hear less about rectal ozone therapy and more about Brad’s prowess, we’re fine with that.