Gwyneth Paltrow and Jennifer Lopez Open Up About Struggles With Online Backlash

Gwyneth Paltrow and Jennifer Lopez have spoken candidly about the challenges they face from online critics.

During a discussion with Emily Blunt, Tessa Thompson, Elle Fanning, and Sydney Sweeney, the actress from Shakespeare in Love and the singer known for “On the Floor” connected over their experiences handling internet negativity.

"I make it a point to avoid reading anything about myself," Gwyneth revealed in an interview with the Los Angeles Times published on December 16. "I just don’t do it, ever. Period."

Jennifer, 56, expressed surprise at this approach, asking, "Wait, you never read anything about yourself? Not even once?"

While she admitted she skips reviews of her movies, Jennifer shared that people often bring them to her attention, whether the feedback is positive or negative.

Gwyneth, now 53, admitted that occasionally she stumbles upon such content, prompting Kiss of the Spider Woman star to empathize, "And then you feel like you want to disappear."

Jennifer nodded in agreement, adding, "Exactly. When someone sends you a link to something cruel about you, and says, ‘This is nonsense,’ it’s really tough. I try to avoid that. I even deleted Instagram."

Similarly, J.Lo mentioned that she periodically needs a digital detox to shield herself from harmful criticism.

This approach has helped her focus on her career despite negativity targeted at her personal life.

"From early on, I’ve attracted both praise and a lot of criticism," Jennifer explained. "It’s difficult because you think, ‘They don’t understand me at all.’ Then sometimes they do, and then they don’t again."

To cope, she reminds herself she’s done well, acted kindly, and worked hard — a mindset that has always supported her through tough times.

The two stars also reflected on the backlash they faced when branching out beyond their initial careers.

Gwyneth recalled, "When I shifted focus to entrepreneurship around 2008, many people were confused and critical. No one really understood what I was trying to do, and that continued for years after I launched my first Goop newsletter."

Jennifer shared a similar story about her transition into music following her success in films like Selena and Out of Sight.

"It was a huge deal," she said. "People said I’d never be taken seriously as an actor again."

Gwyneth, who was once engaged to Jennifer’s former partner Ben Affleck, pointed out, "But you held the number one movie and the number one album at the same time."

Indeed, Jennifer achieved the top spot on music charts with her J.Lo album in February 2001, while her film The Wedding Planner was number one at the box office. She even earned a spot in the Guinness Book of Records.

"That’s the thing," Jennifer said. "People will always try to box you in, saying ‘You can only do this’ or ‘You can only do that.’ But I had my perfume, clothing lines, and now J.Lo Beauty. You have to follow what feels right for you."

For more on Jennifer’s journey and growth over the years, keep following her story.