Gwyneth Paltrow, known for her kale smoothies and the occasional jade egg, has once again reminded the world why she remains a Hollywood powerhouse. This time, she delivered a masterclass in subtle yet undeniable shade, with Meghan Markle as the apparent target.
Over the weekend, Paltrow shared what seemed like an innocent Instagram video of herself making breakfast in her kitchen. Dressed in pajamas, makeup-free, and exuding effortless casual charm, she appeared as just a woman enjoying her morning with her dog, some bacon, and a monogrammed mug. Harmless, right? But the real brilliance was in the details. The timing of the video was impeccable, coming right after the debut of Meghan’s Netflix cooking series With Love, Meghan, which, despite its attempt at relatability, was widely ridiculed online.
Unlike Meghan, who staged her culinary endeavors in a lavishly rented $8 million farmhouse, Gwyneth kept it refreshingly real. No extravagant outfits, no picture-perfect glam, and no desperate effort to appear effortlessly charming—just pure, unfiltered Gwyneth. Fans quickly caught on. "Gwyneth Paltrow throwing shade again, and I’m here for it," one person wrote. Another highlighted the ultimate kicker: the background music in Gwyneth’s video was This Will Be an Everlasting Love by Natalie Cole—the exact same song used in Meghan’s Netflix promos. If that’s not next-level trolling, what is?
The brilliance of Paltrow’s silent dismantling of Meghan’s overly curated image cannot be overstated. While Meghan meticulously presented an airbrushed, perfectly orchestrated version of herself, Gwyneth simply existed. There were no lectures about empowerment, no elaborate lighting setups—just a woman making scones in her own home like any normal person. Fans dissected every subtle yet pointed detail: the monogrammed mug, possibly a nod to Meghan’s obsession with branding; the lemons on the counter, reminiscent of Meghan’s signature aesthetic of casually scattered citrus; and, of course, the eggs. Meghan famously made a spectacle out of her "signature" scrambled eggs with sparkling water, while Gwyneth, without fanfare, just made eggs. “I’m dying. She doesn’t even have to say a word,” one fan noted. Another chimed in, “Go Gwyneth.” And, as some gleefully pointed out, she was in her own real kitchen with her real dog on her own property—subtext Meghan couldn’t escape.
The irony in all of this? Meghan, despite her meticulous efforts at crafting a relatable image, has somehow managed to make Gwyneth Paltrow—the woman who sells $500 face creams and once advocated for vaginal steaming—seem genuinely down-to-earth. And Gwyneth, ever the seasoned media strategist, knows exactly what she’s doing. She’s playing into her authenticity, reaping the free publicity, and cementing her status as the effortlessly cool, unbothered counterpoint to Meghan’s highly calculated persona. Meanwhile, Meghan is likely seething behind the scenes, with her PR team scrambling to spin this into some kind of women supporting women narrative.
The final, perfectly placed cherry on top? When asked about Meghan in an interview, Gwyneth responded with a diplomatically vague, “She seems lovely.” And if you’re American, you know exactly what that means. Without a single direct statement, press release, or social media rant, Gwyneth has executed one of the most elegantly passive-aggressive takedowns in recent memory. So, let’s all raise a monogrammed mug to Paltrow—the undisputed queen of making Meghan Markle look like the try-hard poser she is. And if Meghan is left simmering in silent frustration? Well, that’s just the icing on the effortlessly chic, perfectly baked scone.
