Tina Fey defends Gwyneth Paltrow: “There’s just no forgiveness!”

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Tina Fey is the cover girl for the April issue of InStyle Magazine. People Mag has some excerpts from the interview below, but one thing I just wanted to point out: Tina is trying to defend Gwyneth Paltrow! FOR REAL. In the interview, she was defending Gwyneth’s comment – from a year ago or more, I believe – that Goopy has “cried” on a film set before because she misses her kids. Tina says the same thing, but frames it in a different way and…when Tina Fey says it, the world laughs. When Gwyneth Paltrow says it, the world rolls their eyes and mutters something along the lines of “Snotty bitch troll from hell.” It’s not just what is being said, Tina. It’s how the lady says it.

As a multi-tasker, she puts even James Franco to shame. But actress, book author, screenwriter, producer, mother, youngest-ever Mark Twain Prize for American Humor honoree and seven-time Emmy winner Tina Fey has one more label she’s ready to add to her resumé: life coach to Gwyneth Paltrow.

“Any time you talk about being a working mother and you complain about it in any way, people eat your face,” Fey tells InStyle for its April issue, on sale Friday. “I remember reading some interview where Gwyneth Paltrow said something like, ‘I missed my kids on the set one day and I was crying.’ And I thought, Yeah, I’ve totally done that.”

Continues Fey, 40: “But on the Web site where I read it there were these furious comments. ‘But you’re a movie star!’ Yes, it’s much worse for a mom serving in Afghanistan. Of course. But there’s just no forgiveness.”

Exercising her formidable talents is still a stretch, given the time constraints in a day. Yet, as Fey admits, “You need a lot of help, and you need not to be afraid to ask for help.” She credits a great nanny and husband (since 2001) Jeff Richmond, musician and 30 Rock co-producer, who is also “a full participant” at home.

“But even still,” she says, “every 12 weeks or so, you just kind of lose it. Then you gather it back up.”

Daughter Alice’s Showbiz Instincts
Fey, on the promotional trail for her new memoir, Bossypants (“I thought for a minute about calling the book Having It All: Love, Work, Jaw Pain,” she says), is able to flex her muscle as 30 Rock boss by occasionally bringing her daughter, Alice, to the set.

There, the 5-year-old likes to play with actor Jack McBrayer, says her mom, who adds: “She’s also figured out that it’s funny to show people your butt.”

Revealing something of the Alice-Tina dynamic, Fey, tells InStyle: “Kids are definitely the boss of you. Anyone who will barge into the room while you are on the commode is the boss of you. And when you explain to them that you’re on the commode and that they should leave but they don’t? That’s a high-level boss.”

Which leads to the obvious question. Asked if she’d like more kids, Fey responds to interviewer Henry Alford, “If you’re asking me to do that with you, I cannot.”

[From People]

Going back to the Goop thing: I love Tina and all, but she doesn’t get it! She can say something like, “Any time you talk about being a working mother and you complain about it in any way, people eat your face…Yes, it’s much worse for a mom serving in Afghanistan. Of course. But there’s just no forgiveness” and we know exactly what point Tina is trying to make: that we, as women, need to give ourselves a break. I get that. But Gwyneth has never and will never say anything so humbly genuine. Gwyneth judges us fat peasants and our peasant-y way of living and working and raising children. Gwyneth’s whole deal with Goop is to encourage us to NOT FORGIVE ourselves because we should be aiming to be more perfect, just like her.

So… basically, I love Tina. Always have, always will. But I will not give Gwyneth a break just because Tina says I should. Gwyneth hasn’t earned it!

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Photos courtesy of InStyle & WENN.

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76 Responses to “Tina Fey defends Gwyneth Paltrow: “There’s just no forgiveness!””

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  1. Jennifer says:

    I love Tina Fey!

  2. Jennifer says:

    Dang. Double post, sorry. She’s on my hubby’s Top 10 List and I’m perfectly fine with it.

  3. mln76 says:

    I love her…BUT if Goopy shows up on 30Rock I am going to get violent.

  4. Rita says:

    Has Tina hosted the Oscars? If I missed it, she’d be great. I find her very pretty as well as funny.

  5. TQB says:

    Oh, I don’t know – I think if Tina speaks, I listen.

    Because this is the best response ever:

    “Asked if she’d like more kids, Fey responds to interviewer Henry Alford, “If you’re asking me to do that with you, I cannot.” “

  6. Missy says:

    Tina Fey has one of the cutest children of any celebrity. Just look at this link:
    http://crapwelike.com/2010/03/21/meet-alice-fey-photo-bomber-adorable/

    In another interview a while back (Esquire maybe?)Fey mentioned that her Alice has said that when she grows up she want to dance for money. So cute! And in the two 30 Rock episodes where Liz Lemon says “I want to go to there!”, that quote was inspired by Alice (I think “there” was Disneyland). Love Tina Fey.

  7. Quest says:

    I love Tina because respect is earned, now relevant to Goop…I’ll just leave respect out of it.

  8. AngelMay says:

    You have one little girl and all the help you need, get over yourself Tina. I’ve never been a worshipper of hers. Gimme Goopy any day over this annoying frump.

  9. Blaze says:

    Yeah, I’ll admit I don’t get the hate for Gwyneth Paltrow either, but admittedly, I’ve been ignoring her all my life. It’s pretty easy to do.

    I guess the point I’m trying to make is it dosen’t seem like everywhere I turn, she is being crammed down my throat, so it seems like a lot of the people who dislike her seek out quotes of hers they dislike so they can complain.

  10. Blaze says:

    Also, Tina Fey is the shit

  11. Shelley says:

    Whenever someone brags about their child being their boss (meaning, a brat), I think that says a lot about them and their child, none of it good.

  12. flourpot says:

    @Blaze Your eloquence astounds me. And I agree. Verbatim.

  13. Jen says:

    Ugh, can’t stand her. Or Paltrow.

  14. Fire says:

    Oh, Shelley, you obviously don’t have children

  15. Anoneemouse says:

    Just her name “Gwyneth” pisses me off…so pompous.

  16. Amandahugandkiss says:

    I think another of the reasons why people are not cutting Goop any slack is that immediately after her first baby she said something very Gisele-like about how great she was for choosing not to work now that she was a mum. Ugh.

    But Tina is the bee’s knees, and my god does she look hot in that disco photo.

  17. Nikster says:

    Shelley definitely doesn’t have kids. I haven’t had a peaceful poop in three years. Jeeze.

  18. konspiracytheory says:

    Going out on a limb here, but…Maya Rudolph and Goopy have been friends since childhood – perhaps Tina is cutting some slack for a friend of a friend? Having said that, nothing has changed – I still can’t stand Goopy and I still love me some Tina.

  19. konspiracytheory says:

    Shelley, I agree – I was so disappointed to read Tina spouting that ‘my kid is my boss’ nonsense (says this mom of three).

  20. meg says:

    LOOOOVE that she calls it the “commode” LOL

  21. Matt says:

    This basically boils down to the fact people find Tina Fey incredibly funny, and they find Goopy incredibly annoying.

    I do agree with you though Kaiser- Goopy has a holier than thou way of phrasing every thing she says.

  22. poppy says:

    fey graduated from college whereas paltry managed a whopping few weeks. also, fey actually does more than act; waaaaay more than poopeth could ever dream of accomplishing. fey made it on her own merit and the goop is just a case of nepotism. fey talks about how great her nanny is while paltry never mentions all of hers while implying she does it easily all on her own.
    makes sense why it doesn’t sound as bad coming from the one with actual talent and humility as opposed to an entitled twat.
    also, you could read her comment as a jab. smart she is.
    also, never flashed her goop while exiting a hired car. classy.
    fey for the win.

  23. sandy says:

    love Faye, dislike the goop, enough said. Also my mom raised 7 kids and no help, it can be done, she is not wrong for her feelings, just remember how good she truly has it, and enjoy it.

  24. Shelley says:

    2 girls actually. Not saying they didn’t have plenty of bratty moments! Saying I would never say that my child is my boss. People, do you not have locks on your bathroom doors?!

  25. tooey says:

    For me, the point is, when I hear someone who has untold millions in the bank whining and crying about missing their kids like they HAVE to work it pisses me off. If you miss them so much then don’t work. If you need to work to feel fulfilled, then own it and STFU. If you are a famous actress your kid can come to your job just about any time you want them to. That’s an option 99% of working women absolutely DON’T have…

  26. Scarlet Vixen says:

    @Nikster: Haha, that’s hilarious! I don’t think I have either! And my 3yr old is not a “brat” like @Shelley implies. He’s actually a very well-behaved kid. Children just don’t always understand the boundaries us adults have, nor do they have the same patience level. But when he’s super excited about something, thirsty, etc it’s a big deal to him and he needs to tell Mama RIGHT NOW. 🙂

  27. Blaze says:

    Aww, thanks flourpot! 🙂

  28. YAY says:

    @Shelley – I’m with you! My mom was the boss!

  29. REALIST says:

    Tina Fey is the smartest, coolest woman in Hollywood-bar none…

  30. Lisa Turtle says:

    It’s like Lainey says, Gwyneth is tres popular among those who “matter”.

  31. Zelda says:

    @Shelley:
    I’m with you.
    I’ve no kids personally but my friends who do fall into two camps; the “my kids are adorably demanding” camp and the “my kids are not in charge because they are f*cking children” camp.
    I’ll let you guess whose kids are less annoying, more well-adjusted individuals.

    LOVE that disco photo for so many reasons.

  32. caramia says:

    It’s all in the attitude and goopy’s comes across as ‘I’m better than you, and always will be’
    Tina’s is like, ‘I’m just doing my job’..but why is she dressed like a gondolier?

  33. Cleo says:

    If Gwyneth Paltrow would only be hilariously snarky without remorse, we would like her MUCH better and if she wore red lipstick and diva makeup a la Kevin Aucoin instead of that weird beach motif contouring she is wearing on her face that makes it look like she is covered in sand.

    Let us always remember her blazingly fearless comment on Bennifer, “I always knew he’d end up with a stripper type. I can’t believe I dated him. What was I thinking.”

  34. Lithe says:

    Really, @Zelda? No surprise you agree with @Shelley. Is everything so black and white with you?

  35. anneesezz says:

    She is the best. There hasn’t been a show as funny as 30 Rock in years. Can’t you people tell her comments are tongue in cheek? She is, after all, a comedian. I have a five year old too and she barges in on me all the time in the bathroom… she wants to know what’s going on… it’s annoying but cute at the same time.

  36. Zelda says:

    @Lithe
    It’s a broad, general assessment of the topic for the purposes of a message board. It’s hardly a worldview.

  37. CB Rawks says:

    Absolutely love Tina!
    How sweet is the name Alice! I love that. Makes me wish I had an baby to name it that. 🙂

  38. hyuch says:

    Tina Fey sure gets an easy ride from you ladies. Next celebitchy will be issuing posters for you to all blu-tac above your beds. Stop the fawning….she’s got an agenda and an image she markets like everyone else.

  39. Chris says:

    Since when do mothers in the real world listen to what celebrities have to say about raising kids? I know my wife doesn’t.

  40. hairball says:

    “Asked if she’d like more kids, Fey responds to interviewer Henry Alford, “If you’re asking me to do that with you, I cannot.” ”

    Ha ha – great answer!

  41. sheira says:

    hyuch, of course she is marketing, hell she’s saying in a mag for God sakes smh… and shelly get off of it, you can make that baseless comment but that’s assuming YOU know how their relationship is, for all we know she is probably trying to get a cheap laugh or brag about her kid again, like she always does

  42. sheira says:

    oh and the joke is on ya’ll for letting tina or gwen’s comments get this much coverage in the first place (hello they’re trying to sell mags and movies here, and they make no bones about it) like blaze said some just seek out this mess to keep up stuff (this is coming from a non fan of gwen’s)

  43. chasingadalia says:

    Let’s focus on the important piece of this interview – her daughter has figured out that it’s funny to moon people.

    WIN.

  44. Newbie says:

    Umm…I love those excerpts. This makes me want to read the full interview. @Shelley: I understand the need to raise your kid to know their place. Nobody wants a bratty kid who can’t stand to hear the word “NO”. But I think Fey was joking about the universal appeal of children wanting what they want right. now. all kids are like that, even when you’re strict with them.

  45. me says:

    I find her remarks to be very disappointing. How can you even begin to compare a movie stars life with that of a mother serving in the military or any everyday working mother who has zero extra help. She sounds whiny and my opinion of her has completely plummeted.

  46. CB Rawks says:

    @45 Are you nuts? She was being facetious, she wasn’t comparing them. She is a comedian. Good lord.

  47. DeeVine says:

    I don’t read GOOP very often but I never get the sense that “Gwyneth judges us fat peasants and our peasant-y way of living and working and raising children”. She’s just from another world sharing her opinions. If you find her stuff interesting, fine, if not, don’t read about it.

    Sure there is name dropping, but then she does hang out with famous people. What the big deal? It’s not like she is a wannabe who wants to be famous.

  48. lucy2 says:

    I don’t have any issue with Goop saying she misses her kids while on set, and don’t really get why anyone would. I just get annoyed by all the other crap she says.

    I love Tina, I’m looking forward to her book.

  49. Erica says:

    she’s talking about this website by the way. You people are relentless.

  50. mike says:

    @Kaiser and other goop haters,

    In what way is Goop being condescending?

    To whit, there’s a world of difference between condescension and needy.

    In fact, the problem isn’t that Goop is too snotty, but that she is too needy, too desperate to be liked and in consequence, overshares, overcompensates, over-does everything.

    Such people should be pitied, not mercilessly (and unfairly) mocked.

    If you want to mock someone, mock that racist, mysogynistic hag Karl Lagerfield. A dried up prume of a monster that women of this forum give too much pass just because he’s a stylish old queen.

  51. Fue McCormick says:

    Tina Fey is so boring and not funny. I’m pissed off because she’s on the cover of In Style. I may have to burn that issue when it hits my mailbox.

  52. me says:

    No I am not nuts ..just a mom with kids and a full time job. Fey absolutely was whining and comparing. Stop looking for reasons to excuse her insensitive statements. And no…I don’t care….I just think she insulted a lot of military mothers

  53. Henriette says:

    I knew Tina – casually – at college. She was plump and a sullen biatch at the time.

  54. funny_girl says:

    i agree with tina fey..women are so hard on each other, definitely no sisterhood. its sad but thats it.

    every girl likes tina because shes only avg looking/pretty and therefore non-threatening to other girls. whereas goopy is pretty/beautiful (i know she has botox but shes still very very pretty!) so other girls tear her down..sad..

    i like both tina and gwyneth btw-live and let live people!! 🙂

  55. Sunday says:

    The only thing im conserned about is, what the F is wrong with that cover picture?!?!

  56. gabs says:

    I LOVE Tina Fey. I cant wait to buy her book thats coming out soon (thats probably why shes on a mag to sell it right?) BUT…Tina defending Gwyneth Paltrow? HELL NO. Tina, GP is the kind of bitch that would never have let you sit at her lunch table because you wear glasses, dont wear designer, and dont have a rich daddy. UGH. Like someone above said, if I see goop on 30 rock ill get violent too.

  57. Zelda says:

    @Funny Girl
    “every girl likes tina because shes only avg looking/pretty and therefore non-threatening to other girls. whereas goopy is pretty/beautiful… so other girls tear her down.”

    Yes, we all choose whether we like other women based solely on whether or not we feel threatened by them.

    Sexist malarkey.

    My partner thinks Tina Fey is the sexiest woman on the planet. We literally cannot see her on TV or magazine cover without my hearing something about it. So, in the imaginary world where we are all competing with celebrities, she is technically my biggest threat. Yet I still like her. I like her because she is talented, smart, politically aware, and very funny. It’s almost as though she has qualities beyond her looks that I respect. Crazy, I know.

    On the other hand, when I was in high school, Gwyneth Paltrow was just coming up and I adored her. Her hair, her long legs, her clothes, the fact that she was dating 90’s Brad Pitt… I wanted to BE her (her or Carolyn Bessette). As time wore on I came to care about her less: I’d see her act and think it wasn’t very good, or she’d say something ditsy in the press, or she’d (dear God) sing. And over the years, the more of her I saw of her the less I cared for her. I don’t get the hate, but I sure don’t love her. No matter how pretty she is, Paltrow as a product offers me nothing I want.

    Altogether that is pretty much the opposite of your theory that women base who they like on their own insecurities and jealousies. For example, I suspect you don’t like me so much right now, and I doubt you’re jealous.

  58. CB Rawks says:

    @52
    It must be painful to go through life with no sense of humour. Even when people explain a joke to you, you still can’t grasp it. But then you’d have to give up your faulty stance.
    I submit that the other wives out there aren’t hurt by the joke because they are not stupid and can recognise humour and sarcasm. By the way, facetious means something that is not meant to be taken seriously. As in, she didn’t mean what she said, it was a JOKE. That’s why the words were obviously tongue in cheek.

  59. lease says:

    Zelda —-> WIN!

  60. Melanie says:

    @53. Tina admits to being a bully in school. She wrote Mean Girls about it.

  61. Fuzzy Cat says:

    Great posts Shelley and Tooey!

  62. Fire says:

    “Shelley” – you’ve never had your girls barge into your bathroom at an inopportune time? I know there are locks on the door, but you never had to maybe leave the door open a crack so you could make sure one kid wasn’t sitting on the other kid, or something like that? Clearly Tina’s child is not “the boss of her” – she was being facetious for sure. You are the parent, you are in charge – of course. Me too, as is Tina. You have to teach them the boundaries. But at 5, her daughter probably doesn’t have it all down yet. Doesn’t mean she’s a spoiled brat. And, I have to say, the minute I got pregnant, I was no longer in charge. Couldn’t eat what I wanted, couldn’t drink, couldn’t _________(fill in the blank). After the baby was born I had to get up in the middle of the night to feed, hardly got a shower, etc. etc. They change your life and rule what you do. I couldn’t say “oh, I’m sorry. I’M THE BOSS. I feed you whenever the f*ck I want. I want to paint my nails now.” Of course as they get older they start conforming to your schedule more and they have rules and all of that. But to form the opinion that her kid is a brat based on that one statement is just ridiculous.

    And “Zelda” – yeah, well. Talk to me when you HAVE kids. My kids are demanding but I’m in f*cking charge. Things aren’t so black and white. So far my kids are well-adjusted, but they do throw tantrums in the store. That’s what happens when they are F*CKING THREE.

    To me her comments make her seem more down to earth – like “yeah, I have all this stuff, I may be a movie star, I won Emmys, etc., but at the end of the day, I’m a Mom and my kid doesn’t care about that and barges into my bathroom sometimes.”

    And “me” she said “Yes, it’s much worse for a mom serving in Afghanistan. Of course.” What’s wrong with that? Where is she putting down military mothers? Or did you read more quotes that weren’t above?

  63. Anti-icon says:

    Tina has a natural degree of self awareness that makes her funny, and successful. Goop is attempting to get hers through recounting, in detail, high end purchases and how they enhance her life. I fail to see any similarities between these two women. (And I used to like GP and I have/do try to be tolerant of her mostly bad attempts to be our sweetheart.) It mostly fails. Tiny, however, rocks.

  64. Phat girl says:

    @ Mike #50.

    It’s “to wit” not “to whit”. Not that I’m a grammer nazi or even very good at it, that just happens to be the one word I know!
    PS I too hate that burnt up ole hag Lagerfeld (or Lagerfield I don’t care enough to be sure of the spelling!)

  65. Mary Jane says:

    I can honestly say that I dislike Tina Fey almost as much as I do Goopy. Just don’t think she’s funny…

  66. MrsOdie2 says:

    I know I’m just a fat peasant, but I think I like Tina (nay, love her) and dislike Gwyneth because the former is funny and the latter is not.

  67. GwynIsFullofIt says:

    Oh, you contemptuous whiney, overprivileged brat! You can afford the best in health care, nannies and maids, healthy food and possibly a personal cook, at least one personal assistant, the best schools and daycare centers, and a nice house in a nice neighborhood that’s close to the stores and to work. Give the rest of the working moms a frickin’ break! They have to leave their homes when it’s still dark and don’t have a chauffeur to drive them back after working overtime. You think they cry because they miss their little darlings? No, because they can’t afford the luxury. Buck up, you overmanicured, precious poodle!

  68. Zelda says:

    @fire
    I’m not saying that good kids don’t misbehave or that good parents must always have control 100%. Obviously that’s impossible. Just because I don’t have kids doesn’t mean I’m a moron. In fact I spend about 50% of my working hours with children. I myself was even once was one. I get that kids have minds of their own.

    My complaint is with the parents who think misbehaviour is cute or “just how s/he is” and those who don’t seem to understand that they can and/or should correct bossy/insolent behaviour. A kid walking in on you in the toilet is neither something to get upset over nor something that can be stopped. But the cute “they’re the boss” excuse IS one that many parents use, and it is annoying when they mean it. And way too many do.

  69. Zelda says:

    Anyone else notice:
    How interesting are comments #56 and #60 together?

  70. Kim says:

    Tina is missing the point that they dont have to work – they chose to work. Big difference between that and moms who HAVE to work to put food on table. There isnt alot of sympathy for celebs with rich & famous husbands who could support the entire family. Even without rich husbands Tina And Gwen, Angelina etc have made enough money of their own to stop working for the rest of their lives & have enough money to support entire family.

    There is nothing wrong with being a working mom but some chose it and some financially have no choice.

    Tina et all make a conscious choice to work and be away from her kids.

    This is fine – just dont complain about it because you are choosing work over your kids. You dont have to be working.

  71. Kim says:

    The whole other issue not being addressed is they dont have to work but they chose to because their egos are so big they CRAVE and have to be in limelight! They dont want to lose “relativity” by stopping working. Sure they probably like the work and thats great but then they cant say they HAVE to work and be away from kids. That is simply not true.

  72. original kate says:

    my problem with goopy is that she is always snotting things like “every woman has the time to work out every day, i don’t care who you are.” really, fishsticks? single moms who work 2 jobs? couples who work opposite shifts and have kids? people who are taking care of a very ill loved one? shut up, please.

    i’m so tired of hearing these privileged, wealthy mothers whining about leaving their kids to work when they don’t have to. i’m not saying they should stay home, just that lots of moms i know have to work in order to make ends meet and don’t have the luxury of crying at work because they miss their kids. they also don’t have the luxury of working out everyday, going to their favorite fishmonger and cooking macrobiotic, organic food that was grown by pixies.

  73. Magsy says:

    Just for the fact that Tina thinks she needs to defend Gwynnie she loses points with me. Plus I turn off whenever I hear wealthy celebrity moms equating their motherhood roles with average American moms or talking about their spoiled bratty kids. They come off as condescending to me. I just don’t relate to them. Daddy celebs rarely do it why do their female counterparts feel the need to? Is there a rock musician somewhere defending Chris Martin? I don’t think so.

  74. sparkspark says:

    Did you really believe this? When it comes to Tina Fey’s interviews you should learn to read between the lines.

    Tina is satirist. That’s why I love her.

    I don’t think we should take all this “Tina defends Paltrow” stuff seriously. And bossy child thing? Tina Fey and listen to her kid/husband/anyone on stage? Nonsense. Nope I wouldn’t believe this.

  75. harfang says:

    Many of us who wish the very worst for the GOOP blog would subscribe to the RSS for TOOF in a heartbeat. It’s a shame Tina’s got too much actual work to do. 😉

  76. bored says:

    I’m loving that pantsuit.