Gwyneth Paltrow Proud of ‘Conscious Uncoupling’ from Chris Martin Amid Divorce Backlash

Gwyneth Paltrow has revealed she’s still ‘proud’ of her ‘conscious uncoupling’ from her ex-husband Chris Martin, after the choice of words sparked huge backlash.

The actress, 53, split from the Coldplay frontman in 2014 after 10 years of marriage, but her use of the phrase instead of ‘divorce’ sparked widespread ridicule.

Posing for British Vogue’s November issue, Gwyneth said she feels she’s ‘created a template’ for marital splits, but admitted she and Chris still ‘f*****d a lot of things up,’ during the challenging journey.

The pair finalised their divorce in 2016, and have remained on good terms while co-parenting their two children Apple, who is now 21, and Moses, 19, with Chris even attending his ex-wife’s wedding to her second husband Brad Falchuk in 2018.

She said: ‘There’s a lot of hurt around divorce. It’s a difficult subject and I think why people got so upset was that they heard, ”Well, then, we did it wrong” or ”My parents did it wrong,” which I understand. 

‘But it was really because we had so many friends who had been so hurt by divorce that we wanted to try to do it a different way.’

Gwyneth went on to add: ‘I’m still so proud that we did that and that we live it. I cannot tell you how many people come up to me and thank me for that,and for helping to create that template. 

‘I feel like there needs to be a book, because it was real trial and error. We fucked a lot of things up and then we got a lot of things right.’

The Oscar winner first used the phrase ‘conscious uncoupling’ in a statement posted on her website Goop, announcing that she and Chris were separating.

It said: ‘It is with hearts full of sadness that we have decided to separate. We are, however, and always will be a family, and in many ways we are closer than we have ever been. 

‘We are parents first and foremost, to two incredibly wonderful children and we ask for their and our space and privacy to be respected at this difficult time. 

‘We have always conducted our relationship privately, and we hope that as we consciously uncouple and coparent, we will be able to continue in the same manner.’

While Gwyneth’s use of the phrase sent ‘conscious uncoupling’ flying into the mainstream, the term was first proposed by sociologist Diane Vaughan in 1976, before being coined by marriage and family therapist Katherine Woodward Thomas in 2009.

However, it also sparked fierce complaints online, with many claiming it was just an elite term as an alternative to divorce. 

During the British Vogue chat, Gwyneth also spoke about working with Timothee Chalamet in the upcoming film Marty Supreme, admitting that prior to filming she had no idea who he was.

She added: ‘Everyone makes fun of me because I don’t know anything. I was like, ”Do you have a girlfriend?” And he was like, ”I do”. 

‘He mentioned that she had kids and I was like, ”That’s so cool. I really love to hear that [from] a young man like you.” 

‘I understand a 45-year-old who has his own kids going out with a woman with kids, but it’s a cool choice to go out with a young woman who has two kids. I respect it. I think it’s kind of punk rock. But my point is, I didn’t know [it was] Kylie Jenner…’

The star also admitted that despite her stringent health regime, she still enjoys the odd vices, after being asked the last time she’d eaten junk food.

She said: ‘Oh, last night. A friend came over and I ate a chocolate-covered oreo. That is trans fats to the max. 

‘That’s, like seed oils all the way. But once in a while it’s so important to follow those cravings. I love it.’

The Shakespeare In Love star also shared that the last time she smoked a cigarette was eight years ago, when she was preparing to marry her husband Brad Falchuk.

She said: ‘Oh, sadly I remember it well. It was the night we got married seven years ago. 

‘We were redoing our paperwork and I got life insurance, and it said if anything happened to me and they knew that I had smoked a cigarette, it would nullify the whole thing. 

‘Because I’m such an Enneagram 1 – which is like, ”integrity is everything” – I never smoked again.’

Gwyneth’s daughter Apple Martin has also been following in her footsteps, and last month the pair posed for a joint shoot with GapStudio.

Apple has been carving out a fashion career while studying for a degree at Vanderbilt University, but due to her famous heritage has faced claims she’s only landing work because of her famous connections.

The model hit back at claims she is a ‘nepo baby’ in an interview with The Daily Telegraph, saying: ‘I know this is not a normal way to grow up by any means. 

‘But my parents did a really good job of instilling in me that I shouldn’t be entitled to anything. I have to work.’

See the full feature in the November issue of British Vogue, available via digital download and on newsstands from Tuesday 21st October.