Gwyneth Paltrow & her bodyguards acted like jerks at the library fundraiser

As we covered yesterday, Gwyneth Paltrow made a very special appearance at the East Hampton Library’s Authors Night, a charity event in which “authors” signed copies of their books as a way to raise money for the library. Because Dame Goop is an “author” now, the same as Joyce Carol Oates and Joan Didion, right? Right. Anyway, it seems like the real authors (cough) were not all that pleased that Gwyneth deigned to goop away in their peasanty presence. Of course, the shade was verbose and at least one writer needed a good fact-checker.

Gwyneth Paltrow was a huge draw at East Hampton Library’s Authors Night — but also drew the ire of her fellow writers, who took their revenge with pungent meat products. Paltrow, a vegan, was there with her Coldplay rocker hubby Chris Martin and kids Moses and Apple to promote her impossibly virtuous cookbook “It’s All Good.”

Author Christina Oxenberg — who sat next to Paltrow signing copies her own book “Life Is Short” — wrote on her blog, “Due to the inflexibility of the alphabet, I had the questionable good fortune to be seated directly beside [Paltrow] . . . Slowly yet unmistakably a line began to form in front of my section of table. These folks were hushed and reverential and had a particularly earnest and focused demeanor and casting furtive eyes around . . . the increasingly urgent question they posed, ‘Where is Gwyneth?’ . . . Then the divinity in question arrived with hubby, children and a couple of massive bodyguards. The worshippers blocked my view of the whole world.” Oxenberg said she abandoned her post and headed to the food table and loaded up on “sloppy hamburgers” and “stinky steak sandwiches.”

Then, “Gwyneth’s bodyguards blocked my re-entry despite my assurance I was just an author and pointing at my name tag. ‘No!’ they growled, body blocking me. So I was forced to crawl under the table. And there I sat with my meat products, wafting the excellent smells toward my sleek vegan neighbor. She ignored the siren smells of protein. We never did say hello, although I did try to sell my book to her sleek vegan children. No bites.”

Fellow author and attendee Jay McInerney tweeted of Oxenberg’s post: “Authors Night at East Hampton Library hijacked by movie stars with ghost-written cookbooks.”

[From Page Six]

Well, Gwyneth isn’t vegan (anymore). Her latest cookbook is all about the elimination diet (or the Goop version of it), but when she’s not eliminating carbs and juice fasting, I’m pretty sure that Gwyneth still eats meat. Her first cookbook had recipes for duck ragu, for the love of Goop. But everything else… love it. Of course Gwyneth brought bodyguards to a charity book-signing. What if the peasants tried to touch her?!!??! And what if a real author tried to speak to Dame Goop?! That would have been horrible. Also: Jay McInerney’s “ghost-writer” shade is perfection.

Photos courtesy of WENN.

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110 Responses to “Gwyneth Paltrow & her bodyguards acted like jerks at the library fundraiser”

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  1. Kiddo says:

    Petty chicken shit.

  2. Little Darling says:

    Meh, I believe in her mind she was trying to do something helpful. I think the “O” lettered author was pissed that Goop out shadowed her. I think her kids probably wanted to go and that’s why the bodyguards were there.

    The library should’ve thought it through a little more, but hey it was charity and I’m sure her presence helped boost that total.

    • Florc says:

      For sure there is jealousy at play here. But I would be jealous and spiteful too if I worked hard in such a cut throat field to be recognized and a fading movie star had a ghost writer and was suddenly on par with me. It’s insulting and an ego bruiser.

      On the other hand Goop brought a lot more attention to a fundraiser.

      On the other, other hand the bodyguards were overkill and more of a status thing to throw around in my opinion.

      • paranormalgirl says:

        This has been an annual event since 2005. there have been some pretty famous authors there. Goop didn’t bring any extra attention to an already well known and well heeled event. Having the likes of Marcus Samuelsson and Lidia Bastianich actually eclipsed Ms Paltrow in the cookbook department. No one was jealous, trust me.

        And they served hors d’oeuvres because following the reception, there are dinners you can attend at various Hampton homes. It’s all very tony and expensive.

  3. brin says:

    Christina Oxenberg is my hero!

  4. OriginallyBlue says:

    That tweet was fantastic.

  5. Annabelle says:

    Sounds like sour grapes because Gwyneth was getting more attention.

    • Kaligula says:

      It’s well deserved snark because of how obnoxiously she has gone about building her obnoxious, elitist lifestyle brand, and it’s also fair snark given the way things go in society in general.

      • Meredith says:

        Wow, things can get nasty in the Hamptons! Who knew the “beautiful people” could be so ugly. Good thing I’m having a stay-cation here in Canada’s Steeltown Hamilton, Ontario. Think I’ll go look at a smoke stack now.

      • Jo 'Mama' Besser says:

        McMaster represent!

    • paranormalgirl says:

      She really wasn’t getting any more attention than any of the MANY authors there. In fact, Nelson DeMille had more people lined up than Paltrow did.

  6. Zoid says:

    Okay this seems a bit over the top. Yes people were bound to flock to her table, she is a popular celebrity still. I’m sure a bunch just wanted to see her in person up close. This author could have been stuck near JK Rowling and the same thing would have happened. Sounds like bitter grapes to me, and the meat thing is just petty. However if the bodyguard story is true, well, that’s just rude (but she managed to get past them by crawling under the table?)
    If Paltrow raised money for the library I don’t really see what the problem with her being popular is.

    • Alison says:

      Totally agree. I am not a goop fan but that author’s post was tacky tacky tacky.

      And frankly, it wasn’t terribly well written, which perhaps contributed to Ms. Oxendine’s lack of table visitors. (I really have no idea; I’ve never heard of the woman before now. Which actually shows that goopy did her a favor!)

      • Jo 'Mama' Besser says:

        I begrudgingly agree. She decided that it would have to be an outrage to sit where she did and (genuine sympathy for the eye-rolling moments of the night aside), her miserable experience was decided by her to be a foregone conclusion. Had Paltrow not been there, it isn’t as though it would’ve been CHRISTINA’s night, so a little grace and self-awareness, please.

        However, that Tweet was more tart than anything that could’ve been authored into the cookbook and if either post were to be received as a true and effective slight by me, it would be that one. The first was an indignant grudge piece and therefore more easy to brush off, the second was delicious and accurate. Pretentious and mean as hell and to tell the truth, not needed but more expected by a literati community waiting for what bon mots could be dispensed upon the woeful appearance of the pretender–but I laughed. When you’re right, you’re right.

        I’m getting something to eat.

  7. smee says:

    “Authors Night at East Hampton Library hijacked by movie stars with ghost-written cookbooks.”

  8. eliza says:

    Has Paltrow not heard about breast petals or perhaps a bra?

  9. blue marie says:

    as I said yesterday, the fact that she’s considered an author annoys me to no end.

    the Christina Oxenberg bit is hilarious though.

  10. kennedy says:

    Every time I see a GOOP article, I just become enraged bc it brings me back to her Oscar win which was, hands down, the biggest mistake in Oscar history. That’s all.

    • eliza says:

      Bought and paid for by the Oscar purchaser for all his sexual conquests and pet projects, Harvey Weinstein.

      Not sure why we even pretend there is a chance for someone else to win an Oscar when Weinstein has the wins all paid for every time one of his pictures is in the mix.

      • Jo 'Mama' Besser says:

        Do people pretend? I avoid award shows studiously, they’re unbearable. Just let me see the dresses the next day.

    • BooBooLaRue says:

      Well there were a few others, but yes, it was a major mistake.

    • Ok says:

      One minor disagreement — biggest mistake on Oscar history was Julia Roberts for Erin Brochovich.

    • Spooks says:

      What about Peneloe Cruz for Vicky Christina Barcelona? I still don’t get that one.
      But who are we kidding, I can’t remember when was the last time the best actually won for Best Actress.

    • Jo 'Mama' Besser says:

      Hm, have you seen Mira Sorvino in Mighty Aphrodite? It’s as though she thought, ‘Everyone loved Judy Holliday in Born Yesterday, so what if I do the same thing, but far, far, far, far, far, far, far worse? I’ll bring out one of my signature funny voices, that’ll give ’em the talent!’

      Groan.

    • lenje says:

      I agree it was a mistake, but not the worst. Judi Dench winning for being on screen for 5 minutes, anyone? And for the same movie!!

      Judi is a great actress, but for this particular movie.. no. Just wrong.

  11. Faye says:

    What cracks me up is that Oxenberg and McInerny, as talented as they are, can be as prententious in their own right as Goop. So I love this shade-throwing. It’s so junior high mean-girlish, especially that petty move about bringing the burgers back to the table (also, food at a library? I guess it was dinnertime). I want a response from Goop now.

    • taxi says:

      Oxenberg & McInerney are a married couple, in case you didn’t know.

      • NYC_girl says:

        McInerny is married to Anne Hearst; at first I thought this was about Catherine Oxenberg who was this gorgeous 80s blonde on Dynasty, but then I read it again and I have no idea who she is.

      • Bernice says:

        She is the dynasty actresses sister.

      • Faye says:

        No, they’re not. McInerny is on wife number 4, I think – Anne Hearst.

    • paranormalgirl says:

      It’s not held at the library. It’s held under a massive tent at Gardiner Farm.

  12. Carol says:

    Oxenberg and McInerny seem like the petty jerks here.

    • Kaligula says:

      Are you serious? They’re mostly having a bit of fun, I believe. But also, they are devoted professionals in a field in which she is clearly at best a dilettante. If they didn’t have some snark to offer I would question their writerly wit and integrity.

    • Meredith says:

      But they’re entertaining petty jerks making fun of another petty jerk. And that makes it fun for us peasants.

  13. Amanda says:

    Gwynnie needs to lay off the sun and Gwynnie needs to put on a bra.

    • Jayna says:

      It just looks like to me she had a sunburn. When you’re on vacation with the kids, sometimes that one day you overdo it out in the sun. Her face definitely has that look of a sunburn finally turning half red/half brown. That’s why I think she had little makeup on. Trying to cover a sunburn makes it look even worse. And why her face is so shiny. She’s loaded her face with lots of moisturizer, trying not to peel from the sunburn. She needs to learn to wear hats out in the sun and sunblock.

    • Cazzee says:

      Seriously. Goop’s skin looks like leather in those photos.

  14. Liberty says:

    Christina is the daughter of Princess Elizabeth of Yugoslavia (Prince Charles’s second cousin) and author of the old gossipy read Royal Blue and a couple of other books, and she was the one eating a burger under the table so Goop could be happy signing a ghost-written ode to her food issues. I love the tweet.

  15. jen d. says:

    For goodness sake woman, wear some sunscreen! I feel like she should know better….

    • Veeeery Veerytas says:

      Damn, that’s one ugly Goop picture on the front page. She needs to wear makeup …. lots of makeup.

  16. sirsnarksalot says:

    Something tells me the “au naturel” look she is sporting here looked better in her bathroom mirror than in real life. Her shiny, wrinkly skin is a warning for those who would consider following her food restriction, juice cleansing, eating disordered advice. Blech.

  17. Mrs.Darcy says:

    Ha, love it. Sorry but real authors have the right to meangirl Gwyneth, so what if it’s petty, it’s a hard knock life being a writer, most don’t have the movie star carte blanche ticket into publishing. Good on Oxenburg for biting back, why shouldn’t she when her own opportunity to promote her book was completely blocked (sounds like the organizers fault to me but hey ho). Gwyneth must learn that to be taken seriously as an author she must act like one at events like this, not like her usual low key two bodyguarded self.

  18. lucy2 says:

    Wow, they do NOT like her! I can get them being annoyed (and jealous of the undeserved attention) but it was a fundraiser, and the end result was people showed up and donated. But yeah it would suck to be next to Goop.
    I would not have crawled under a table though. If they don’t let you through (insane) get the event organizer.

  19. Kate says:

    Given it was for charity, and given it sounds like Gwyneth made the charity a ton of money, whining about how Gwyneth stole your thunder is incredibly pretty. The meat/veganism stuff is immature, and the fact that so much of this authors account focuses on that aspect is a little weird.

    • paranormalgirl says:

      Paltrow was not responsible for earning the library a “ton of money.” This is an annual event and pretty much the same people go (I’ve gone since 2008.) It’s $100 for the reception and book signing. Having her there didn’t bring anyone new to the event, the over 100 others were JUST as responsible.

  20. Moec23 says:

    A lot of people keep saying the author was being petty, but can you blame her or the others? When you are a REAL author you actually have to work to write your books and push them. Selling books isn’t easy these days! It would piss me off too! Showing up to do what is your actual job so you can make a living and have to sit next to a pretentious bitch who sells books based on who she is, not actual talent. Plus I bet not being able to sit at your designated seat and being refused by Goop’s bodyguards would be hella aggravating! I wouldn’t be crawling under tables, I would be throwing burgers and pork at her!

  21. UsedToBeLulu says:

    Her body guards aren’t worth snot if the woman could get to her by crawling under a table. With plates of food!

    • Ennie says:

      She could not get to her own seat on the same table as Gwynnie, they were seated together and the BGs should have known better, it was not her event, she was just one more author there.

      • UsedToBeLulu says:

        I realize this. But if the woman could get to her despite them blocking her (i.e. get to the seat next to her) they aren’t worth p-ss. I hope that is clearer.

  22. Kita says:

    As one poster mentioned above, Christina Oxenberg is the daughter of Princess Elizabeth of Yugoslavia. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Princess_Elizabeth_of_Yugoslavia)
    Her sister is actress Catherine Oxenberg, who I believe is still married to actor Casper Van Dien.

    So Goop’s bodyguards thought the daughter of a princess was too ‘peasanty’ for the table?

    Pretty remarkable when your great-grandmother was Grand Duchess Elena Vladimirovna of Russia, a granddaughter of Tsar Alexander II of Russia.

    Other than that, seriously bad taste to make this a circus that literally squeezes out the other authors. Do you think Gwyneth feels any remorse?

  23. Jacqueline says:

    I could not imagine reaching a point in my life, EVER, where I couldn’t just act like a normal person.

  24. BeesKnees says:

    From looking at Lainey’s pictures, it appears Alec Baldwin and his trophy wife were there too. I feel bad for these authors having to put up with a$$hole actors who think they are super intellectuals. A bunch of people have commented that Oxenberg and McInerney are being petty and that Gywenth made a lot of money for charity so who cares, but I’m sorry, Gywenth hijacked the event and made it about herself. Gywenth would never admit that anyone else at the event was as worthy as her. I just don’t understand how anyone could like of defend this insufferable woman. I didn’t see Iron Man 3 in the theater because I cannot stand to watch anything with her anymore. And I was a fan at one point too.

    • Susie Q says:

      I agree and making her crawl under her table to get back to her seat is inexcusable.

    • Becky says:

      Well said and totally agree

      • taxi says:

        That may have been an exaggeration. Oxenberg is the brunette in the white blouse at the right in the last photo. Doesn’t look as if she’s inundated with admirers.

    • paranormalgirl says:

      Alec Baldwin is one of the founders and creators of the charity.

      And in reality, Paltrow didn’t hijack anything. She was barely a blip on the radar for most people there.

  25. Nerd Alert says:

    You know, I’m torn. NOT about the McInerny tweet, that was perfect. Absolute perfection. She doesn’t deserve to be labeled an “author” and as someone who desperately aspires to become one, I can see getting jelly and throwing shade like that. I totally would. It’s hard to get there.

    But the other lady is (apparently) a second gen princess, and I don’t see why she’s any better than Goop here, or more justified. She probably didn’t have to work at it like other authors have to work at it, and I’m assuming a fair amount was handed to her as well, in the royal tradition. Methinks she was acting like that because the Yugoslavian princess couldn’t stand the American princess. Princess fight!

    • Aras says:

      Yeah, I’m in total agreement here. The princess was mad because HRH Goop commanded a larger crowd for her cookbook du jour? Pfft!

    • Meredith says:

      Agreed. It was a princess fight. Duelling tiaras kind of.

    • Liberty says:

      Actually this princess has flipped burgers and held a lot of other real world jobs to make ends meet before and while being a writer. She and her sister, as children, lived as they could with their sort of ladeedah mother among their peers after being exiled from Yuogslavia, selling jewels etc to make ends meet (royalty does not always equal vast funds and castles after political overthrows).

      From a 1997 PEOPLE interview:

      “I have never felt like a royal,” says Christina, 34, her brown hair disheveled. She is wearing a Gap T-shirt and downing mouthfuls of pistachios. “I think I’m innately peasant stock.” — Ah no wonder she was ignored by Goop!!

      http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20123109,00.html

    • Jo 'Mama' Besser says:

      My thoughts exactly.

    • Kate says:

      Well if the woman is going to take potshots at Gwyneth for being a cookbook author (ie not a “real” author) she should also be taking shots at the people who’s written parenting, decorating, party-throwing and baking books (who were also there).

      It’s hardly Gwyneth’s fault if more people wanted to see her than the woman next door – if this author is going to be angry at anyone it should be the organisers.

      I think the author comes out of this sounding a lot worse than Gwyneth.

  26. Scarlette says:

    I think this author was looking for some free publicity…. So she wrote this blog. They are told way upfront who will be attending. She knew all along she be next to Paltrow. Paltrow’s celebrity brought the fundraiser a lot more money than the lady who wrote the blog.

    • GoodNamesAllTaken says:

      That’s what I thought. I’ve never heard of her until now, so it was good publicity. I think she was thinking more about herself than the charitable cause she was supposed to be supporting. Her post was humerous, but I think she should have taken the high road and not mentioned it.
      Having said that, I would not have crawled under the table to return to my seat. I would have gotten the person in charge to make those bodyguards back off. How obnoxious.

  27. tabby says:

    For some reason she looks like she smells bad.

    • Nerd Alert says:

      It’s funny, I thought that, too. But I found out she admits she smells terrible!

      Moral of the story: sometimes you should judge a book by its cover, and stand ten feet back.

  28. Lexi says:

    Sounds like jealousy to me.

  29. evelyn apricots says:

    The only children I saw at this event was the Martin children. Appears they were just props (and CM) to further GP’s lifestyle expert. Have to admit people are buying into her brand.

    • pk says:

      Or just maybe her family was there to support her…I think it was nice they were all there.

  30. Tiffany says:

    Header pic to this story is the best ever.

  31. Olivia J. says:

    DUE TO THE INFLEXIBILITY OF THE ALPHABET. Bless you, Oxenberg, and your most literary shade.

  32. Susie Q says:

    Wasn’t Catherine Oxenberg on Dynasty?

  33. lisa says:

    may goop never go out w/o mascara again

    and i think she is only a vegan when it suits her, she can’t seem to decide who she wants to be in between her weekly cigarettes

  34. mar says:

    She is NOT vegan!!!!!!!!

    She always plugs cheese and talks about eating it. She mentioned Leo D has asked her to be a vegetarian.

  35. meh says:

    Didn’t she win some “most beautiful lady in all the land” magazine cover recently? Looking at these photos, I’d say she has the beauty, mystique, and sex appeal of a damp dishrag.

    • skuddles says:

      “I’d say she has the beauty, mystique, and sex appeal of a damp dishrag.”

      Absolutely. But make that a damp, SMELLY dishrag 😀

  36. Marta says:

    she is so ugly!!

  37. Decloo says:

    I was there and Goop did NOT hijack the event. In fact, all the native East Hamptonites pretty much ignored her (and Alec, because he is everywhere you look in EH). It’s a very New York thing to purposefully ignore celebrities and people in East Hampton take their literature seriously. The only people gawking at Goop were the tourists and not many ponied up for the ticket.

    • paranormalgirl says:

      Alec got plenty of attention as the co-founder of the charity, but not a ridiculous amount. Just a lot of glad handing and networking. I was there, too, and yes, Gwyneth Paltrow was just a blip on the radar.

  38. Kim says:

    Hum what can I do to get attention for my book? Bag on Gwenyth & the media will pick it up and Ill get some attention for my new book. Im not a huge Gwenyth fan but come on Oxenberg & McInerey are acting like jealous children.

  39. Meggin says:

    I like her as an actress and I’ll admit I’ve liked a lot of her movies but as a person… I’m on the fence. Wish she would wear another color besides white for once.

  40. chloe says:

    What shocks me the most out of this story is that they were serving “sloppy hamburgers and stinky steak sandwiches”, I would expect a little fancier food choices, maybe they could have Gwynnie whip up a few of her recipes for them:) PS Gwyn wear a bra not only are your nipples showing your boobs are starting to go south, it makes your probably very expensive dress look bad and I’m not going to talk about her skin.

  41. skuddles says:

    Goopy looks very greasy. And what’s the deal with the no makeup? Is she trying to convince us she’s so ‘naturally beautiful’ (lol) she doesn’t need it? Sorry dude, a little warpaint would go a long ways in your case.

    I wonder if she smells as bad as she looks… given her penchant for not wearing deodorant.

  42. Penguin says:

    God she looks rough without makeup. My 50 yr old mother who smoked for 30 yrs, looks younger & more fresh in the face than she does.

  43. Ginger says:

    Wow! Even her shade throwing is written well. I would be supremely annoyed at being blocked by bodyguards if I were in her position too. Ridiculous!

  44. Ally8 says:

    I would not queue anywhere to see la Gwyneth. I don’t get people. Who will be impressed by your story/photo, exactly, East Hamptonites?

  45. Aurelia says:

    Please wear make up goop. You ain’t pretty enough to go eau natural.

    Next she will think she is pretty enough to work a pixie cut.

  46. Jarredsgirl says:

    To make somebody crawl under a table in order to get back to their seat is highly obnoxious and low class.

    Yesterday I thought Gwyneth looked good, but looking again, she looks terrible and to hear how her behaviour affected others makes her look even worse.

    If I was an author I would be jealous if someone like G stole my thunder too… but it happens.

  47. Oyn says:

    But, she isn’t vegan. Her hubby is vegetarian and she isn’t.

  48. Chasay says:

    POOF:

    She’s not vegan: Youtube video: “Gwyneth chicken”

    She’s cooking meat and in her blog you can see her with lobsters!!
    Lobsters and chickens are ANIMALS!!

    She’s A FAKE.

  49. poppy says:

    goop’s “i didn’t try” is still so very try hard.