Gwyneth Paltrow hits back over Meghan Markle backlash as she delivers verdict on duchess
Gwyneth revealed that she doesn't see Meghan's lifestyle brand as competition
Gwyneth Paltrow has weighed in on Meghan Markle’s latest business venture, dismissing any sense of rivalry and clarifying that she doesn’t even know the Duchess of Sussex personally.
The Oscar-winning actress and Goop founder, 52, responded to comparisons between her $250 million (£192 million) wellness empire and Meghan’s recently launched As Ever brand.
She added that she was “raised to see other women as friends, not foes”.
Gwyneth Paltrow weighs in on Meghan Markle’s lifestyle brand As Ever
Addressing the media buzz around the two Montecito-based lifestyle brands, Gwyneth told Vanity Fair: “I think there’s always more than enough to go around. Everybody deserves an attempt at everything that they want to try.”
The Hollywood star’s comments come as Meghan’s new venture has received both criticism and curiosity since its launch last month.
I’d never view the Duchess of Sussex as competition.
As Ever is expected to offer a range of products, including jams, herbal teas, ready-mix baking kits and flower sprinkles. This reveal drew comparisons to Goop, Gwyneth’s luxury wellness brand.
However, Gwyneth made it clear that she does not consider Meghan a competitor.
Instead, the actress offered a warm welcome to the duchess as she enters the lifestyle space. Gwyneth said she’d “never view the Duchess of Sussex as competition”.
She also shared advice she learned from her mother, actress Blythe Danner: “Another woman is never your competition. What is right for you will find you.”
Despite both living in Montecito, California, where they are often cited as high-profile neighbours, Gwyneth admitted that she has no personal relationship with Meghan or Prince Harry.
“I don’t know Meghan and Harry. I mean, I’ve met Meghan, who seems really lovely, but I don’t know her at all,” she admitted.
She even joked about the couple’s security: “Maybe I’ll try to get through their security detail and bring them a pie.”
While Gwyneth Paltrow made it clear that she doesn’t have a personal connection with Meghan Markle, she did acknowledge that she naturally feels inclined to defend women facing public scrutiny.
She said that when there’s “noise about certain women in the culture, I do have, always, a strong instinct to stand up for them”.
With Love, Meghan backlash
Her words come as Meghan faces backlash over her Netflix series, With Love, Meghan.
The eight-episode lifestyle show, which offers insights into Meghan’s home life, cooking and entertaining, received negative reviews from critics.
According to sources close to the duchess, Meghan was hopeful her new Netflix series would be a breakthrough moment for her career.
However, an insider revealed to RadarOnline that the former actress struggled with the intense backlash.
They claimed: “She had truly believed that this show could catapult her to the same heights as Martha Stewart, offering a fresh start for her career and an image overhaul. Now, though, she’s feeling entirely crushed, the humiliation still fresh.”
The source added that Meghan was unprepared for the level of criticism: “While she was prepared for a little negativity, the overwhelming backlash has left her reeling.”
Despite the media backlash, Meghan has been focusing on cultivating a private life and tight-knit circle in Montecito.
She told PEOPLE magazine: “I have a couple of girlfriends up here. These are stay-at-home moms and working women with normal jobs, not in the public eye. We went from just connecting through our kids to having girls’ nights out or doing Pilates together.”
She also emphasised that despite her global fame, she enjoys everyday activities like attending public yoga classes.
Meghan Markle announces new podcast
Amidst the mixed reception to With Love, Meghan, the duchess is making another attempt at a media comeback.
Earlier this month, she announced a brand new podcast, Confessions Of A Female Founder, which is set to premiere on April 8.
The show promises candid conversations with influential women about the highs and lows of running a business.
With the Netflix series receiving lukewarm feedback and her new lifestyle brand yet to prove its success, Meghan’s upcoming podcast will be a key test of whether she can regain momentum in the media world.
Read more: A young Meghan Markle looks dramatically different during her high school days in unseen photo
So, what do you think of Gwyneth Paltrow’s remarks on Meghan Markle? Leave us a comment on our Facebook page @RoyalInsiderOfficial and let us know.
