FOUR YEARS AGO, Gwyneth Paltrow introduced the world to the term ‘consciously uncoupling’.

F. Sadou F. Sadou

Like prehistoric man being handed an iPhone, we turned the term over and over, treated it with considerable suspicion and eventually passed it on to the next person for further examination.

And after bestowing the phrase on an unassuming public, Gwyneth was absolutely floored by the backlash.

Speaking to The New York Times magazine, the actress recalled the reaction to the statement she and ex-husband, Chris Martin, released announcing their divorce in 2014.

Sharkpixs / Zuma Press/PA Images Sharkpixs / Zuma Press/PA Images / Zuma Press/PA Images

Gwyneth thinks the public were under the impression both she and Chris were trying to sanitise the sentiment, and felt hugely misunderstood in the days that followed the announcement.

I was really saying we’re in a lot of pain, we failed at this; we’re going to try and do it in a different way. But I was so raw that I didn’t anticipate…

The Iron Man actress is of the opinion that other high-profile personalities may have received a warmer reaction to the announcement.

I think that was an instance where it really hit me that an insouciance with language from me is different than from somebody else.

Gwyneth also felt that much of the backlash was aimed towards her, with little focus on the Coldplay frontman.

On learning that Star Magazine had dubbed her the world’s most hated celebrity, Gwyneth said:

I remember being like: Really? More than, like, Chris Brown? Me? Really? Wow. It was also the same week that I was People’s Most Beautiful Woman. For a minute I was like: Wait, I don’t understand. Am I hated to the bone or am I the world’s most beautiful?

Ian West Ian West

The mother-of-two reflected on the months that followed the announcement, telling the publication that it wasn’t an easy transition.

Chris and I had days in the beginning when it was really hard. I didn’t want to see him. I didn’t want to eat dinner with him, and he didn’t want to eat dinner with me

However, the former couple found a common ground in their approach to parenting and familial goals.

In our case, we’re really lucky because we see eye to eye. Chris and I are really lucky because we really agree fundamentally about how to raise the children. We have similar principles and values. I absolutely trust him. I’m just going to focus on what I love about Chris, and there’s so many things to love about him, and I still do that.

Fair enough.

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