Gwyneth Paltrow & Chris Martin Separate, Goop Crashes

Defamer is reporting that Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin have separated. Or rather, they have decided to do something called "conscious uncoupling."

Paltrow and Martin announced the separation on her website (which is down) this afternoon:

It is with hearts full of sadness that we have decided to separate. We have been working hard for well over a year, some of it together, some of it separated, to see what might have been possible between us, and we have come to the conclusion that while we love each other very much we will remain 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.

Love,


Gwyneth & Chris

The split follows the Vanity Fair "takedown" of Paltrow, in which the profile cheekily speculated that Gwyneth was having an affair. No word yet on who Paltrow is consciously coupling with, now. Yeesh. The profile clearly stirred up some rumors about the fidelity of each partner, whether it is deserving or not.

Secondly, the announcement was posted to Paltrow's lifestyle site GOOP; Gwyneth's way of breaking the news before it became tabloid fodder. (Spoiler: It is going to be tabloid fodder, anyway.) Of course, the term "consciously uncoupling" sounds empowering and aware, but it is also very "on-brand" for Paltrow's entire presence. Can a divorce be "on-brand"? Is that such a thing? Did Gwyneth just pioneer a new type of amicable separation, one with bee venom facials and perpetual cleanses?