Gwyneth Paltrow and Madonna used to be close friends. The pair were two of the biggest figures in Hollywood in the '90s and early aughts, with Madonna serving as a mentor and friend to Paltrow, who was beginning to navigate her career and an increasing notoriety after her Academy Award-winning turn in the 1996 movie "Shakespeare in Love." A new book titled "Gwyneth: The Biography," explores the actress and businesswoman's life and career, including the friendship breakup between her and Madonna.
An excerpt of the book, written by Amy Odell, was acquired by PEOPLE, which published some highlights. Per Odell, Paltrow and Madonna concluded their friendship after Paltrow was on vacation with her then-husband Chris Martin and had an awkward encounter with Madonna and her daughter Lourdes Leon.
"Their relationship reached a breaking point when Madonna showed up to an island where Gwyneth and Martin were vacationing. Madonna seemed to know that Gwyneth would be there, which Gwyneth seemed to find strange, a friend remembered," wrote Odell.
The writer claimed that Madonna met up with Paltrow and her family for a dinner and berated her daughter in front of them, prompting Martin to draw a line.
"Madonna then insisted Gwyneth and Martin join her for a big group dinner at a long table where Madonna went off on her daughter, Lourdes. Gwyneth and Martin were disgusted by the behavior. 'I can’t be around this woman anymore,' Martin told Gwyneth. 'She’s awful.' Gwyneth agreed that Madonna was toxic and ended the friendship."
More details about Madonna and Paltrow's friendship
Paltrow and Madonna's friendship lasted until the early aughts, when Paltrow praised her and their friendship with various outlets. “Everything I have gone through, she went through ten times worse and ten times longer,” said Paltrow in 2006, according to US Weekly.
“She gives me good advice about how to say no and take care of myself.”
No details have been revealed, but the fallout of Madonna and Paltrow's relationship has long been reported, with the two never photographed together again since 2010.
Paltrow seemingly addressed Madonna in 2010, in an interview with British Vogue where she was talking about the celebrity trainer Tracy Anderson. “Yeah, it’s good that [Tracy] doesn’t train Madonna any more. It was too much,” she said. “She keeps people waiting — it takes up your whole day.”