Two of Hollywood’s most self-important, self-promoting, and self-adoring women, Gwyneth Paltrow and Meghan Markle, decided to set the internet on fire this week—not by doing anything particularly meaningful, but by orchestrating an entirely transparent "we're besties" moment to squash rumors of their alleged feud.
The spectacle played out during an Instagram Q&A when Paltrow, ever eager for engagement, read out a question from one of her 8.7 million followers. The inquiry? Whether she could make sense of the supposed tension between her and Markle. With the dramatic buildup of a daytime soap opera, she swung the camera around to reveal none other than Meghan herself, sitting comfortably in Paltrow’s meticulously curated Los Angeles kitchen, casually nibbling on a piece of pie like the quirky lead in a rom-com.
The internet, however, was far from fooled. It didn't take long for people to call out the painfully obvious—a mutually beneficial publicity stunt, thinly veiled as a casual moment of friendship. Observers wasted no time dissecting the move, with one bluntly pointing out that Markle had likely achieved her goal: being linked to an A-lister. The skepticism was palpable, with comments ranging from curiosity about how this would backfire on Paltrow to outright disappointment in her for associating with Meghan. Some users vowed never to support Paltrow again, with one noting that this charade served as yet another reminder of why nothing on social media, mainstream media, or celebrity statements can be trusted.
And then, of course, came the warnings. "Gwyneth, you’re in danger, girl," one person quipped, referencing the notorious pattern of relationships, friendships, and professional connections that seem to crumble in Markle’s wake. The internet has even coined a term for it: “to Markle”—a verb inspired by the seemingly endless list of soured associations left behind as Meghan maneuvers her way through social circles. Whether Paltrow realizes it or not, she may have just boarded a sinking ship, champagne in hand, blissfully unaware that she's clinking glasses with an iceberg.
To be fair, no one ever mistook Paltrow for the epitome of authenticity. This is the same woman who peddled overpriced jade eggs, championed dubious wellness trends, and once encouraged women to steam their private parts. But even for her, this move was bizarre. Risky, even. And according to many, she just got “Markled.”
Then came the real twist—the backlash. It was swift, brutal, and, most importantly, directed almost entirely at Paltrow. What began as a lighthearted PR stunt quickly devolved into a public relations nightmare, leaving her blindsided by the sheer volume of criticism. According to inside sources, she hadn’t anticipated this level of vitriol and was furious that Meghan had seemingly used her to rehabilitate her own image while leaving Paltrow to take the fall. What Paltrow had envisioned as a fun collaboration had, in her eyes, turned into yet another example of Meghan leveraging a connection to benefit herself at someone else’s expense.
Rumors swirled that Paltrow deeply regretted the entire ordeal, realizing too late just how polarizing Markle’s reputation had become. And that brings us to the inevitable takeaway: whether this was a desperate attempt at damage control, a PR stunt for their respective brands, or some unholy alliance of self-serving social climbers, the public saw right through it. Paltrow may fancy herself a chess player in a world of checkers, but in reality, she just handed Meghan yet another headline, another controversy, and another opportunity to control the narrative.
