The Gwyneth Paltrow backlash over Goop.com

Web Scout covers the backlash over Goop.com (where Gwyneth Paltrow seems to be positioning herself as a sort of Martha Stewart):

Gwyneth Paltrow's new lifestyle/advice website, Goop.com, went up yesterday in preview form, but the backlash is already well underway. The site will be a collection of recommendations and musings from Gwyneth herself about things that make her life special.... but the road ahead looks bumpy for this little operation! It's not just that no one wants to take life direction from the girl who has it all -- though that's a powerful thread in the criticism of the site. There are also some more basic technical problems on display, starting with the layout of the two-page site. It's not clear why she bothered to put it up with so little content on it. It feels like something that won an award for Web design in 1998.

When you click on the fork and knife icon, you get an essay about how she loves "to travel, to cook, to eat, to take care of my body and mind, to work hard...," etc.

Photo by Luca Bruno/Associated Press

Comments

[HypnoToad]

Yay! Another snob-lebrity lecturing us little people about our impact on the environment as she jets off to Paris on a whim!

She makes about as much sense as Al "Giant Power Bill" Gore.

Remember when Barbra Streisand -- who lives in a house big enough to house a small Mexican village -- lectured us about how we should line-dry our laundry to save the planet?

You're famous. It doesn't mean you're important -- or smart. Shut up.

[Edith Polanski]

Hello,

What I do not like about this Website is that, although it states the contrary, it promotes the idea that harmony and happiness are achieved by consumption. Not everyone can afford to travel to the most lavish and refreshing places and eat the best foods. I would like her to tell me how would she nourrish her innerself if she were just a regular un-famous woman living in let's say... Soudan?
I do not hate Gwyneth either. I only think that her extremely positive views ans solutions to all problems might seem irrealistic.

[Trish Sinclair]

Hello there! I just want to point out that when someone says that you SHOULD love their Website and be thankful for it, it only sounds like they are full of themselves and want a lot of attention.

I really don't like the GOOP Website, but I DO NOT hate Gwyneth. I know she's grateful for what she has and would like to give back, but I think that it would be better if she got involved in community service and if she travelled to the less pretty places in the world from time to time. It's easier when you have tons of money to make most of the decisions in your life. But when you don't, and when you work to survive, your priorities are something else. That's the thing, when people do not struggle to physically survive anymore, they lose their sense of purpose and start reinventing themselves. I guess her reinvention is good, it's just that she doesn't need to share it with everyone. It does seem very indulgent when someone is focusing on only THEIR life to give other people advice. That's why I think people do not liek this Website. It's false of Gwyneth to say that we hate her and that we are all negative and that she's sorry for us. An opinion is an opinion. There is stuff she doesn't like too, and that's ok. I won't get mad if she doesn't like my comment.

[Lara Mckinnon]

As much as I do not have anything personal against Gwyneth Paltrow, and I do beliieve that she is a good person, I still find her GOOP initiative awfully laughable. Does she realize that most people's lives are not glamourous and fabulous? I especially laugh when she describes all the posh places she's been to and how she lived a diversified life. I consider myself lucky when I get to go on a small one-week trip to Vancouver (from Ottawa) when I get my annual 3 weeks vacation from the job (for which I earned a Master's Degree). Honestly, why do famous people think that just beacuse they are in the spotlight they deserve so much attention for everything they do? I don't care what their face cream is, I don't care what their diet is, I don't care who's their favourite designer and so and so. I am so sick of seeing celebrities making the headlines, as if there are no other concerns in the world. I am sickened by the corruption and the unfairness of it all. The Occidental world is nothing but a money-grabbing, self-selling, perverted industry, and I will not suport these foolish ideas coming from people telling us that all we have to do to be happy and healthy is smile, shop, wear sunscreen and do yoga! There is much more to it. My criticism has nothing to do with envy, as I'm perfectly content with my 60 000 annual salary. Okay, maybe Gwyneth needed a little self exploration, like a meditation session. But these kinds of reflexions should be kept to one's self. It would seem much less egocentric that way.

[Snailgoop]

People just don't properly understand that goop is the most precious substance in the Universe.

[Ashley]

I love the site! If you don't like it, then, guess what? Don't go to it! It's that simple!

Thanks Gwen!

[JOETTA HARTMAN]

Give her a break, Its her site.
You can choose to read it or not. Your intitled to your opionion and she is intitled to hers, even if yours sounds not like envy but jelousy. But, since I don't know you personally and just assuming by your words, I will give you the benefit of the doubt. In my opionion, its a Great idea! It may need some work, and may not be of interest to everyone, but if done correctly and if more celebrties chimned in, this may be enough to satisfy the curiousity of those who would like a peek into their lives. The rich and famous. It might tame the pauperutzzi, if they voluntarly put some of themselves out there, and beat them to it. The photos wouldn't be worth as much money (bad for the economy)but they wouldn't be chased like wild animals, which should be illiegal anyway. It would be illegal for a non entertainer to be stalked and chased like this. (Well at least it is where I am from) I read the crap, and enjoy celebs sightings, especially if I am able to get a photograph (something I thought I outgrew many years ago) but I find it hard to believe that there are no laws protecting celebrities from stalking, and being hunt down like a wild animals. I find it discusting how entertainers are swarmmed and chased, like flies on ____. It must be scary, especially for the littles ones. Everyone assumes their photographers, What if there was a siko in the crowd. Its not right. Its amazing anyone wants to be an entertainer or politician for all that matters, when you think of all the crap that goes with the fortune and fame. No matter how talented and exciting it would be for my children to get involved with entertaining/modeling, I would try to stear them away from anything more than experiencing it. I wouldn't want them to end up like Princess Diana nor would I want to entangled in a paupperoutzzz sighting as an innocent citizen, in the wrong place at the wrong time, being ran over by paup... to snap a photo.

[Daphne Rogers]

I love your website, Gwynneth! I get it. However, I know you are a magnificent knitter, do you do any patterns or anything else concerning knitting? Please let me know. I signed up for your newsletter! Thanks, Cheers! Daufne Rose a.k.a. Daphne Rogers

[ann safron]

When I visited the web site the majority of it wasn't working - possibly hacked.

IMHO there is a lot of negativity about this site because there are so many families losing their jobs, homes and stressing on how to feed their famiilies. Organic food is much more expensive, at least where I live. Electric cars are in the experimental stage. A great many people on this planet have no clean water, decent housing or sanitation facilites. Wars are killing innocent families and damaging ther rest.

People have to have stable incomes. proper medical care, good education for their children, an assured retirement, affordable housing and clean energy sources before they can take on other challlenges.

[max frost]

Who needs advice from someone "privileged" I suppose now that Rosie no longer blogs, these people who rush out to but Oprah book picks need someone to tell them what to do, read, watch, feel, and "be" as Goop Paltrow says.

[WTF]

If you don't like her blog//website then don't read it. All I'm reading is a needless attack against Gwyneth Paltrow because she's lucky to have a gilded lifestyle.

The nasty comments above are not criticism. It smells of pure jealousy.

Personally, I've read her newsletter and it wasn't for me. I unsubscribed. Why can't the haters do the same thing. If people would spend their time improving their own lives instead of trying to destroy others we would all be better off.

[rachel]

uuum, why are people so negative about someone's personal endeavor? I think it is jealousy. Martha Stewart did the same thing and seems more smug, and yet Gwyneth is attacked. Probably because she isn't a felony commitiing prune. People get defensive about their boring rat race lives whenever anyone tries to enlighten them. Haters

[May Siegrist]

Gwyneth is being grateful about her convenient life. Of course she has the opportunity to access that kind of life... and she feels that she needs to share everything she knows to be abundant and happy with or without monetary use.
I personally like her idea, at least I would know that hollywood is not all about expensive crap.

[Chey]

Anytime someone has the courage to put themselves out on the "public" line, there are always those who feel they have to dissect that person for having such courage. I'm confident that Gwyneth has the poise, grace and intellect to receive the positives and to hear the negatives, yet not dwell on them. I'm sure that growing up in the show business industry she's has learned well how to accept both. If not, then she certainly wouldn't have earned top rewards from her industry by receiving an oscar! Much success to you Gwyneth on your new venture from one of your fans. Keep up the excellence!

[Jen Prevatte]

"Critics" are just not getting Goop. As usual, the focus is on the wrong thing... the web layout, Pulitzer prize worthy???, etc. For me, I consider Gwyneth Paltrow a wise, knowledgeable, down to earth, worldly lady. The result... a great recipe in demand. What good is all this information, if you don't share it???

Simple and to the point, informative, and very insightful! Thanks Gwyneth!

[Bethany]

For God Sakes, she hangs out with Madonna, the Anti-Christ...who cares what she says. She has lost all credibility

[S.M.]

I signed up for the GOOP newsletter and I find it insightful, creative, and helpful in many areas of life. The recipes from the Thanksgiving newsletter were out of this world - in fact, it was the best Thanksgiving meal I have ever cooked. So, thank you, Gwyneth! She shares her ideas and posts the ideas of her friends in many areas, like child rearing, exercise, fashion, restaurants, travel, etc. I think it is wonderful that she is doing this and it shows us that she is a very down-to-earth girl who has just been blessed with a very great talent. Congratulations to GOOP! I know it will be a wonderful success.

[susan]

I could see why some might think her advice is pretentious, it maybe. I might not care about her list of places to see in LA, but I also don't have the access to resources that she may have because of who she is. For instance I appreciated the menu and recipes for the cleanse.

[john rodriguez]

The girl who has everything is going to share with America what that she loves "being in clean spaces". The same girl who wore pink and won Oscar Best Actress for "Shakespeare in Love" (which I felt Blanchett at that time truly deserved). And "Talented Mr. Ripley, that scene where they're together -- argh Blanchett just stole it away in minutes. The same girl is evokes the Hamptons lifestyle, pastel colored rooms, clean sheets, and everything given to her on a silver spoon? I never liked Gwyneth Paltrow -- her Vogue covers and her fashion sense, the allusion that she's semi Grace Kelly. What's this site about -- everybody who wants to live the life of princess site?

[Nees]

WHY ALL THE HATRED? No matter if someone is educated, ignorant, rich or poor, if you're wanting her or someone else to be a better person, take a look at yourself first. If someone has not attacked you, why are you attacking that person. My suggestion is, send a letter to her staff and I'm sure she'll receive you're constructive advice or rather destructive complaints. My advice, why don't you confess some of your wrongs or better yet, have your family list a few and then feel free to say what you want about her? .. think twice about yourself and about what her motive was to put the site up. Would you be saying the same things if she was not a celebrity? God bless us all in these times and may we all work on ourselves to create a better world... what are you doing in this world? I hope it's good, cause I sure know I need some work...

[KMD]

Well, when she's quoted as saying THIS about people who have criticised "Goop" it doesn't go far for me in changing my opinion of the site initially:

"People get a hit of energy when they are negative and it is very detrimental for them. They do not understand why they do not have a happy life. That kind of stuff is just noise to me. I feel sorry for them."

Just as some people cannot differentiate between a needless attack on their personal self and a critical assessment of a website, I don't suppose she sees that as tooth-gratingly arrogant either. That would involve listening to the "noise".

Gwyneth, could you not see how pretentious the opening (inevitably flash) page was? ...."Nourish the Inner Aspect"..? Oh, not to mention...long after, the icon to "buy" resides neatly above it (along with others.) That just gave off the wrong vibe the first time I saw it.

Ms. Paltrow, I nourish my "inner aspect" in ways that don't involve being a consumer, thank you. I'm also pretty sure that the demographic that would read your site to begin with already are aware of the dangers of pesticides in food. But then again, according to you I'm blisteringly miserable so of course I can't be objective..this couldn't possibly be a dislike of your site's format and opening feel and must instead point to a grave disharmony in my "inner aspect", no doubt brought on by mainlining glucose. (which I don't touch, by the way.)

Meh.

[Beatrijs]

Why all the hatred against Gwyneth? You don't have to read her advise if you don't want to, so she is not 'forcing' her ideas on anyone. She is a little bit out of touch with reality but she means well...i guess

[Michelle]

I have really enjoyed receiving the first couple of issues of Goop especially being a fellow Libran on the journey myself. I would like the opportunity to engage with Palrow and her team, but where are the contact details on her site? Ostericising her audience surely smacks of a rather large ego, or lack of importance placed on the money needed to afford someone to be hired to engage with her audience? Surely everything she is trying not to be?

[jillp]

Does Gwyneth realise that 'goop' is a streetname for
gamma hydroxybutyrate, which is a club drug available in liquid or powder form is taken orally (frequently combined with alcohol); used to incapacitate individuals for the commission of sexual assault and rape ?!!!!!!!

[joy]

I think it's interesting that she's trying to diversify by launching her site to give us her insight.

But perhaps, she might have waited until she had more content and insight to offer. Was she trying to beat someone to market and couldn't wait to launch it?