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In Goop we trust? Gwyneth Paltrow<\/strong><\/a> has courted controversy since launching her wellness and lifestyle brand, Goop<\/a>, in 2008.<\/p>\n What started as a weekly newsletter from the Clean Plate<\/em> author<\/a>, grew to an expansive website that spawned a fashion line, wellness products<\/a>, recipe portal, podcast, magazine and health summit, among other projects.<\/p>\n \u201cWe operate from a place of curiosity and nonjudgment, and we start hard conversations, crack open taboos, and look for connection and resonance everywhere we can find it,\u201d Goop\u2019s website reads<\/a>. \u201cWe don\u2019t mind being the tip of the spear \u2014 in short, we go first so you don\u2019t have to. We\u2019re glad you\u2019re here.\u201d<\/p>\n Since its launch, Goop has released a few controversial products<\/a>, including the Jade Egg<\/a> (it is claimed to increase sexual energy when placed in one\u2019s vagina) and the \u201cThis Smells Like My Vagina<\/a>\u201d candle. Paltrow, however, stands by her choice to release the items<\/a>, especially the scent that may make some people uncomfortable.<\/p>\n \u201cYou grew up getting messaging around the feminine care that was heavily scented with synthetic fragrances and all this kind of thing,\u201d Paltrow exclusively told Us Weekly<\/em><\/a> in September 2020, regarding her cheeky candle. \u201cI just felt it was time to make a bit of a feminist statement around accepting who we are and our femininity.\u201d<\/p>\n A year prior, the Iron Man<\/em> actress came under more fire<\/a> after the In Goop Health conference in London in June 2019. Some attendees were upset about the $1,300 hotel price tag and what they called a subpar experience, with one reportedly labeling the actress \u00a0a \u201cf\u2013king extortionist\u201d and claiming the weekend was less of a summit and more of a sales pitch.<\/p>\n \u201cGwyneth acts like she\u2019s a health goddess, but actually she\u2019s a pretentious, greedy extortionist,\u201d an attendee told The New York Post<\/em>\u2018s Page Six<\/a> at the time. \u201cShe had a ton of security. She was unapproachable. She did the minimum \u2014 a few fireside chats with Twiggy<\/strong><\/a> and Penelope Cruz<\/strong><\/a>, then she put on her Birkenstocks and snuck out.\u201d<\/p>\n According to the company, however, there was no foul play.<\/p>\n \u201cIt should be noted that the actual value of the weekend package was over $8,000,\u201d a rep told the outlet. \u201cThe cost included a hotel suite (valued at $1,600) and a gift<\/a> bag valued at $3,000, among other items. During the event, Gwyneth opened the day, conducted three fireside chats (almost half of the day\u2019s panels) and hosted a workout and Q&A the next day.\u201d<\/p>\n Nevertheless, numerous attendees were left mystified after the event. \u201cI was a huge fan of Gwyneth,\u201d added the guest. \u201cNow I feel like I have lost my faith in God.\u201d<\/p>\n The Shakespeare in Love<\/em> actress<\/a> defended the wellness company from criticism early on as well, telling Harper\u2019s Bazaar UK<\/em><\/a> in 2011 that \u201cI very much want Goop to be its own stand-alone brand.\u201d<\/p>\n She revealed that \u201cat this point in time, it\u2019s inextricably linked with me, but we really are a team of amazing people who bring incredible ideas to the site. It\u2019s not only me.\u201d<\/p>\n