During her time as a high school student at the elite Spence School in Manhattan in the late 1980s, Gwyneth Paltrow received an encouraging note from Madonna, urging her to quit smoking. This note came about as a result of Paltrow’s father, Bruce Paltrow, seeking help from director Leo Penn to reach out to Madonna, who was then married to Sean Penn.
The note, which Madonna penned, read: “Dear Gwyneth. Just to jot down my average day… I wake up, I don’t smoke… And I go home a happy, healthy me. Love, Me, Madonna. PS: Good girls live longer.” This outreach marked the beginning of a friendship between the two women, who bonded over shared experiences, particularly during Paltrow’s time in London with her first husband, Chris Martin.
However, their camaraderie took a turn, as detailed in Amy Odell’s new biography, “Gwyneth: The Biography.” The book reveals that the friendship reached a breaking point when Madonna unexpectedly showed up at an island vacation where Paltrow and Martin were staying. Madonna’s behavior, particularly during a dinner where she reportedly criticized her daughter Lourdes, left Paltrow and Martin uncomfortable. Martin expressed his disapproval, leading Paltrow to agree that their friendship had become toxic.
Despite their estrangement, Paltrow has acknowledged the positive impact Madonna had on her life, particularly in helping her confront postpartum depression. In a past interview on “The Oprah Winfrey Show,” Paltrow praised Madonna for encouraging her to focus on the bigger picture, which included compliments about Madonna’s children.
“Gwyneth: The Biography” is set to be released on July 29 and is currently available for preorder, promising to provide further insights into Paltrow’s life and relationships.
This narrative not only highlights the complexities of friendships in the celebrity world but also underscores the lasting influence individuals can have on each other’s lives at pivotal moments.