Gwyneth Paltrow has addressed a controversial suggestion she made earlier this year regarding the use of arugula as a dairy substitute. During a May appearance on the Today Show, while sharing a recipe for turkey meatballs, Paltrow advised viewers to "dice up arugula and put it in" if they want to avoid dairy, stating it adds a "nice texture."
The comment led to widespread confusion and backlash online, with some labeling the suggestion "disgusting."
In a recent TikTok video, Paltrow clarified her statement, admitting she misspoke. "You know what, I said dairy instead of parmesan cheese, so this was my mistake," she said while rewatching the segment. She explained that her intended advice was for home cooks to add diced arugula to meatballs as a dairy-free alternative to parmesan cheese, providing an "extra dimension of flavor."
Paltrow expressed amusement at the online reaction, noting, "I said dairy, and the internet collapsed."
However, her clarification did not fully resolve the online debate, with many commenters on her TikTok video expressing continued skepticism. Some users argued that arugula's flavor and texture are not comparable to parmesan cheese, even when used as a dairy-free substitute. Others expressed relief that the statement was clarified, indicating it had been a point of confusion.
This is not the only recent instance of Paltrow clarifying a viral comment. She also addressed the origin of her Goop candle, "This Smells Like My Vagina," during an appearance on Benny Blanco's podcast. Paltrow explained that the candle's name stemmed from a humorous remark she made to a perfumer while exploring unusual scents. She recounted telling the perfumer, "Well, this one smells like my vagina" as a joke, but the perfumer took it seriously and created the candle. The $75 candle, released in 2020, was a bestseller but was eventually discontinued by Goop after three years because, as Paltrow stated, it became "distracting people from what we were doing."