A new biography shares details about Gwyneth Paltrow’s supposedly controlling and difficult behavior toward her friends. This seems to say she often managed her inner circle by creating competition and asserting power. According to the author, Amy Odell, who wrote about the Goop founder’s life, Paltrow’s approach to friendships involved pitting people against each other. This was especially true when it came to highly sought-after movie premiere tickets.
While it’s normal for big celebrities to get a certain number of tickets for these events, usually four. However, according to Page Six, Paltrow had at least five close friends who made up her usual group. This meant not everyone could attend, and she reportedly set up a situation where her friends had to compete for the few available spots.
This observation, based on the author’s research, suggests Paltrow intentionally created this dynamic. She supposedly used the limited number of tickets as a way to control her friendships, making her friends fight for her approval. The biography describes a celebrity who would travel on a private plane to film festivals and movie promotions with her group of friends, but being part of that group wasn’t a sure thing.
Gwyneth Paltrow allegedly used her fame to control her friends
Sources also say there was a general rule for anyone who wanted to stay in Paltrow’s good graces. To keep her favor, friends had to show complete loyalty, meaning they had to be willing to cancel all other plans immediately if she wanted them around. This supposed expectation shows how demanding and exclusive her friendships were, where her own needs and schedule always came first.
Odell explained, “Other people described to me how to stay in the good graces of somebody like that — I’m sure this is not unique to Gwyneth as a big star — you have to be willing to drop what you’re doing and go hang out with them.” The biography also explores a major and long-running feud between Paltrow and her former friend, actress Winona Ryder. Their friendship reportedly fell apart in the 1990s.
'Gwyneth, the biography by Amy Odell, claims that Paltrow turned on her former best friend, Winona Ryder, in the 90s, labelling her, “Vagina Ryder.”'
— Brightly (@BrightlyAgain) July 30, 2025
At the time, after Paltrow’s breakup with Brad Pitt, she had moved into Ryder’s New York City apartment. This was during a period when Paltrow was dating Ben Affleck, while Ryder was in a relationship with Affleck’s close friend, Matt Damon. This complicated mix of relationships set the stage for a dramatic conflict that eventually ended their friendship.
The main issue in their fight revolved around a specific incident where Ryder and Damon had an argument. After the fight, Ryder claimed she had been robbed. The biography explains that Paltrow and Affleck strongly doubted Ryder’s story. They supposedly believed Ryder had made up the whole thing just to get attention from her boyfriend, Damon.
According to the author, this suspicion was a major source of tension. Paltrow reportedly got frustrated with Damon for comforting Ryder, thinking he was too gullible to realize the story might have been fake. This deep disagreement over what really happened, along with Paltrow’s firm belief that Ryder was lying, marked the beginning of the end for their friendship.
As their relationship got worse, the biography claims Paltrow’s dislike for Ryder grew stronger. During this time, Paltrow supposedly started using a cruel and offensive nickname for her former friend, calling her “Vagina Ryder.” This deeply personal and insulting name was apparently a jab for allegedly making up stories.
