The world’s most likeable businesswomen Gwyneth Paltrow and Meghan Markle shows that there is really no beef between them

Meghan Markle and Gwenyth Paltrow appearing together in a reel on YouTube. Screen shots of the women: gwenythpaltrow/Instagram. Illustration: Just So

Gwenyth Paltrow invited Meghan Markle to show that all was well between the famous Montecito neighbours, in case you were wondering. And you might have after Ms Paltrow shared a reel on Instagram four days ago that appeared to be mocking the actress-turned-duchess-turned-lifestyle guru’s Netflix series With Love, Meghan. There had been shade thrown at the As Ever brand owner and her antics before, but this time, the video the Goop boss shared—which was filmed in her own kitchen (as was, interestingly, the reel of her personal trainer and Goop habitue Tracy Anderson, expounding the joys of healthy home cooking in a kitchen that truly belongs to the demonstrator)—seemed to be a deliberate derision of she who is nuts about “flower sprinkles”. Ms Paltrow wore throughout the reel what appeared to be a set of pajamas, possibly to have a dig at the duchess’s dressy blandness, now available to admire and buy on her new ShopMy page.

But contrary to what the rest of social media delighted in, the two Los Angeles darlings were not at loggerheads, it seems. During an ‘Ask Me Anything’ session on Ms Paltrow’s Instagram Story, the blond responded to a fan question about the alleged “beef” between the two by sharing a selfie-video and asking, as if befuddled, “I genuinely do not understand this at all, whatsoever.” She then unexpectedly directed her camera to someone on her right, while she asked calmly: “Do you understand this?” Ms Markle quickly appeared in the frame. Minus her usual platitude, she merely ate whatever she was gorging herself with (pie?) and, with mouth stuffed, raised her hands to suggest an answer: “who the hell does?” Are they so chummy that a simple question did not deserve a worded answer? In the current issue of Vanity Fair, however, Ms Paltrow told the magazine: “I’ve met Meghan, who seems really lovely, but I don’t know her at all.”

But contrary to what the rest of social media delighted in, the two Los Angeles darlings were not at loggerheads

The same video was shared on Ms Markle’s IG page too, but on both the women’s accounts, they now appear to have been removed (you can still view it on TikTok). The two celebrities—adored and abhorred in equal measure—were dressed as if attending a breakfast meeting of some mutual admiration club. Ms Paltrow had forsaken her pajamas and chosen proper over anyhow: a light grey, round-neck cardi, which was buttoned to the top. In place of the standard strand of pearls was a gold link necklace that a hip-hop newcomer would wear. She also had on a massive pair of geeky frames that covered a quarter of her face. Ms Markle was in her usual congenial combo of shirt (navy) and slacks (white), and looked every bit as comfortable and joy-seeking as she was on the inspiring-as-white-bread set of her Netflix show.

Appearing together could be an attempt by the two mothers to put to bed the chatter that there was a rift between them. But it is not clear why they needed to. Gwenyth Paltrow, as “out of touch” as her detractors rightly say she is, has built a seemingly successful business with Goop, including an actual clothing line, G Label by Goop. Meghan Markle’s As Ever is a shaky, fledgling entity, so is her attempt at clothing promotion. She has not put out any brand that was or would be a threat to anyone. Could the actress with an Oscar to her name really be bothered by an ex-actress’s entry into the lifestyle space? It is possible, as has been suggested, that Ms Markle is desiring for her brand to be the next Goop. But even if she makes her own candles, it is unlikely that she would describe them as smelling like her private parts. Gwenyth Paltrow and her ‘Wellness Jade Eggs’ are really quite untouchable.