Future college students of social media – and its energy on the earth of celeb – will certainly be writing dissertations on the extraordinary 31-second video of Gwyneth Paltrow making breakfast, because the second the veneer of well mannered restraint collapsed between the Oscar-winning Hollywood actress and the Duchess of Sussex.
Make-up free, carrying pyjama shorts which confirmed off her limitless legs, Paltrow – who launched her £200million enterprise Goop, which began out as a weekly e mail e-newsletter, in 2008 – was a research of ease and poise as she ready what she calls a ‘#boyfriendbreakfast’.
Posting it on Instagram on Saturday, she wrote: ‘My cleaner tackle a basic breakfast: gluten-free buttermilk biscuits, not-so-perfectly cooked over-easy eggs, and crispy bacon.’
Gwynnie has been getting ready the occasional ‘boyfriend breakfast’ for months now, however there have been some particulars on this one which instantly sparked debate.
Was this breakfast all it appeared or was it really a delicate, however pointed, mocking of Meghan who has, in fact, simply launched her TV present and is about to unveil her personal life-style model? The salvo was well-timed, too, for the friction between Goop and its ‘Dupe’ could be coming to a head with Meghan’s new enterprise into the enterprise of promoting ‘curated’ garments and jewelry – similar to Gwyneth does.
Yesterday, the Duchess of Sussex steered her life-style enterprise much more firmly into Goop territory with a web-based store of handpicked items from manufacturers together with Saint Laurent, Reformation and J Crew.
Gwyneth has her personal ‘G Label’ but in addition sells handpicked items from different manufacturers on her Goop web site in an an identical method.
So, what’s the fact behind the froideur between Meghan, 43, and Gwyneth, 52?
A makeup-free Paltrow appeared snug and cosy as she confirmed followers a typical breakfast for her
In fact, a cold distance between the Queen of the Californian coast and the upstart Duchess has been evident ever for the reason that Sussexes moved to Montecito and Meghan began to make associates with most of the rich and influential ladies who had been mainstays of Gwyneth’s circle for years.
Earlier than the Sussexes arrived, Montecito was a sleepy cashmere-clad enclave, a well-kept secret for the Hollywood elite.
Co-CEO of Netflix Ted Sarandos had a weekend place right here, and Paramount boss Brian Robbins purchased his household hideaway in Montecito throughout the Covid pandemic.
Oprah Winfrey has her big home and parcel of land in Montecito and is notable for not spending a lot time exterior the gates.
Ellen DeGeneres is one other long-time resident, or at the least she was till she took fright over the election of President Trump and moved to the Cotswolds.
Gwyneth has had a house in Montecito since 2016 and moved in full-time pretty just lately, having bought up in LA now that her youngsters have flown the nest.
Certainly she has simply accomplished the full renovation of her jaw-dropping eco-mansion, which is larger and located in a greater street than that belonging to newcomers Meghan and Harry, who moved there in 2020.
In enterprise phrases, it’s a David and Goliath story, too. Meghan’s fledgling enterprise, run with the assist of Netflix, goes to promote biscuit mixes and jams, at the least initially. Its street to launch has been bumpy, with trademark points and delays.
Meghan and her pal Kelly McKee Zajfen tuck right into a banana split-inspired breakfast
Phenomenally profitable, it started as a e-newsletter in 2008 then launched as a industrial firm in 2011 (when Meghan had but to land her function in Fits, and three years earlier than she launched her personal minor weblog within the life-style enviornment The Tig).
Among the many associates of Gwyneth since romanced by Meghan is Whitney Wolfe Herd, founding father of the relationship app Bumble, who loaned Meghan a personal jet in 2023. She and Gwyneth had identified each other for years.
Then there’s the style designer Tracy Robbins, who invited Harry and Meghan to Kingston, Jamaica, final yr for the premiere of the Bob Marley biopic One Love, which was made by her husband’s firm, Paramount. She’s one of many friends on With Love, Meghan – however, once more, she’s identified Gwyneth longer.
Meghan has additionally fostered a friendship with make-up mogul Victoria Jackson, a very long time pal of Gwyneth however now a member of the Duchess’s mahjong crew (she holds recreation nights along with her girlfriends, we’re advised in With Love, Meghan).
Ted Sarandos and his spouse Nicole Avant, had been Gwynnie’s associates first too. And as for Ellen DeGeneres, most likely Meghan’s most loyal native good friend (earlier than she moved to the UK) – she obtained to know Gwyneth when she was pregnant with Apple in 2003.
Final spring, I’m advised there was a really telling episode when Gwyneth hosted a dinner at her home for the cashmere model Loro Piana. It was a ‘celebratory night devoted to the artwork of residing nicely’.
Oprah was there, and her greatest pal TV presenter Gayle King. So too had been Sarandos and Avant, Whitney Wolfe Herd and Tracy Robbins. Each single a kind of friends turned a good friend of Meghan – Robbins featured in collection considered one of With Love, Meghan, in any case, whereas Oprah got here to her marriage ceremony. But Meghan wasn’t invited to have rhubarb white negronis with Gwyneth and associates that night time.
Gwyneth Paltrow’s breakfast of gluten-free buttermilk biscuits, over-easy eggs and bacon
And now Gwyneth has apparently been ruffled simply sufficient to make her irritation clear.
For there are quite a few clues in her breakfast video – with its deliberate shrugged-off-in-a-minute really feel – which level to an outbreak of hostilities.
What about that Mona Lisa smile as Gwyneth holds up a espresso mug, jokingly emblazoned with a pretend heraldic ‘G’ and ‘B’ (for her and her husband Brad Falchuk)? It absolutely pokes enjoyable at Meghan’s calligraphic handwriting, of which she is so proud.
It additionally lands a mild blow on the pretension of the ‘M’ beneath a crown – sure, a crown – which heads the private notepaper utilized by the Duchess of Sussex, who’s not a working member of the Royal Household.
Gwyneth’s decanting of store purchased biscuits on to a baking tray seems like a tiny swipe at Meghan, too. With Love, Meghan accommodates a surprisingly great amount of pre-bought goodies, akin to peanut butter pretzels.
The feelgood soundtrack – This Will Be (An Eternal Love) by Natalie Cole – was really utilized in promos for Meghan’s Netflix present.
But a lot of the time, it’s the distinction relatively than the similarities that are instructive.
A glimpse of Gwyneth Paltrow’s actually stunning Montecito view, and a peek at her personal kitchen, reminds us that Meghan filmed her hostessing ideas in a £6 million mansion she’d rented for the aim.
Paltrow’s breakfast video seemed to be a thinly veiled dig at Meghan’s current Netflix collection With Love, Meghan
Gwyneth’s make-up free face and crumpled PJs make Meghan’s costly wardrobe of impartial cashmere and much of gold and diamonds look effortful and inauthentic. (As each mom noticed upon watching With Love, Meghan, who on earth makes a tomato sauce whereas carrying a white linen shirt?)
Gwyneth’s kiss along with her beloved canine Gaucho absolutely isn’t a heartless swipe at Meghan, whose late beagle Man makes quite a lot of heartwarming cameos in her present.
You may suppose this ‘take-down’ was so juicy it’s certain to be some kind of joint advertising and marketing tactic.
However no. There’s loads of proof that it’s actual, not least the truth that Gwyneth follows the clothes model As Ever NYC on Instagram. That’s the model which thought of suing Meghan over the launch of her jams model, As Ever. In the meantime, Gwyneth doesn’t comply with Meghan, or Meghan’s precise official As Ever model, and Meghan shouldn’t be among the many 8.7 million who comply with Gwyneth.
Naturally, something overt would by no means be Paltrow’s model. Sure, in Dynasty, super-rich rivals Alexis and Krystle thrillingly as soon as got here to precise blows (in a lily pond). However in actual life, in 2025, that is how very wealthy ladies duke it out. On Instagram. With apparently elaborate politeness.
It’s pure Paltrow – who can neglect her splendidly icy micro-aggression after wiping the courtroom flooring along with her accuser following a trial over a ski crash: ‘I want you nicely.’
Solely per week beforehand, Paltrow seemed to be mellowing in direction of her rival. Talking to Vainness Honest journal about her appearing comeback in forthcoming film Marty Supreme, she was seemingly gracious about Meghan.
Or was she?
The video was a stark distinction to Meghan’s polished picture. Pictured: Meghan’s branded raspberry unfold
‘I don’t know Meghan and Harry. I’m shocked, given how shut they stay,’ she mentioned, including: ‘I imply, I’ve met Meghan, who appears actually beautiful, however I don’t know her in any respect.’
She went on: ‘Perhaps I’ll attempt to get by way of their safety element and produce them a pie.’
The Oscar-winning actress then seemingly welcomed Meghan into the approach to life area.
‘[When] there’s noise about sure ladies within the tradition, I do have, at all times, a robust intuition to face up for them.
‘I used to be raised to see different ladies as associates, not foes. I believe there’s at all times greater than sufficient to go round.
‘Everyone deserves an try at the whole lot that they need to strive.’
And but absolutely this was the faintest of faint reward?
An try? At what they need to strive?
Treating Meghan, who’s so pleased with what she achieved along with her life-style weblog The Tig as a naked newbie is unquestionably essentially the most deliciously pointed barb of all.
Gwyneth’s many followers and followers are sure they’ve been capable of learn her message to Meghan with ease.
‘Love this,’ wrote one on-line of her video. ‘No faux home, faux kitchen. Simply your stunning true self. Such a breath of recent air to see.’ One other mentioned: ‘What no edible flowers?’, referring to the plentiful sprinkling of flowers in Meghan’s present.
A number of known as Gwyneth out in feedback on her video for being ‘threatened and petty’ and ‘declasse’ for apparently swiping at her youthful rival.
However on X, previously Twitter, many had been greeting the feud with undisguised glee. ‘She doesn’t even have to say a phrase. Genuine, higher in each single method in her pjs no make-up & so elevated,’ one commented.
One other wrote: ‘Gwyneth Paltrow continues to throw shade & I’m right here for it! No make-up in her precise kitchen! And being as relatable as she might be, in her pjs, hair not styled, no make-up, sipping espresso. Nobody praising her. Simply her telephone filming. Easy and straightforward.’
Inside just a few hours, Meghan had posted her personal breakfast-making on Instagram.
This time she was in a kitchen – not the one rented for the present – with Kelly McKee Zajfen, who’s a good friend of Gwyneth’s too.
The 2 ladies are proven ‘making’ a breakfast which is a single banana break up, drizzled with yoghurt, berries and granola… and eaten with a flourish and a knife and fork.
‘Voila!’ says Meghan. After taking a mouthful she then inexplicably says, ‘Cheers!’ to her good friend, who has additionally eaten a mouthful of banana utilizing cutlery.
She captioned the reel: ‘When considered one of your besties reinvents a banana break up for breakfast.’
What are we to make of breakfast wars? Maybe that Meghan shouldn’t be going to let Gwyneth ‘mean-girl’ her and have the final phrase.
And perhaps Gwyneth isn’t the one one that needs to carry Meghan barely at arm’s size.
There’s persistent speak that Oprah, having landed the interview everybody needed with Meghan in 2021, has been distancing herself from the actress-turned-philanthropist ever since.
It actually appears curious that Oprah doesn’t comply with Meghan on Instagram.
She does, although, comply with her long-time good friend Gwyneth.
Within the blistering take-down of the couple in Vainness Honest earlier this yr, one nameless neighbour was quoted as describing Harry and Meghan as clueless and saying they had been ‘essentially the most entitled, disingenuous individuals on the planet’.
We’re all now left questioning simply which a kind of rich and well-known neighbours might need supplied such an unflattering opinion. And if just a few of them share it.
