Don't Get Duped by the Wellness Industry: Rosamund Pike Speaks Out on Goop and Beyond

Rosamund Pike and Gwyneth Paltrow Shutterstock (2)

Rosamund Pike criticized the wellness industry and its idea that being healthy is not enough, and we must strive to be "well." She stated that she believes we are all being conned by this industry.

During a recent interview to promote her new BBC Sounds audio series, People Who Knew Me, Pike made satirical references to Goop, the wellness brand founded by Gwyneth Paltrow in 2008. In the show, Pike plays Emily Morris, a woman who fakes her disappearance after 9/11 and assumes a new identity. Pike also shared her thoughts on the wellness industry, stating that it is alluring because it caters to desires that people may feel ashamed of, such as wanting to maintain youth, beauty, and fitness. Pike, who is from England and has two sons with her partner Robie Uniacke, believes that consumers are drawn to the wellness industry because it offers a sense of control over these desires.

Rosamund Pike attends the 28th Annual Audie Awards on March 28, 2023 in New York City. Andrew H. Walker/Shutterstock

She commented on how the #MeToo movement, which aimed to empower women to speak out against sexual abuse and harassment, offered them an outlet to break free from societal expectations. However, Pike expressed concern that people are now willingly subjecting themselves to a different form of control through wellness culture, which has become highly politicized and poses significant risks. Goop, Paltrow's company, has been embroiled in several eyebrow-raising controversies, such as selling libido-boosting pills and $120 disposable diapers, but none more so than the infamous "This Smells Like My Vagina" candle, which was introduced in 2020 and has since been discontinued.

"It all began as a playful moment," the Academy Award winner shared during a January 2020 appearance on Late Night With Seth Meyers, recalling the creation of the now-famous candle. "I was with Douglas Little, the nose behind the fragrance brand Heretic, and we were just having some fun. I caught a whiff of this amazing scent and jokingly said, 'That smells like my vagina.' Of course, it was all in good fun, and to set the record straight, Doug and I were not under the influence of mushrooms at the time."

A UK woman's home was reportedly engulfed in flames after a Goop candle exploded in January 2021, garnering widespread media attention. According to Jody Thompson, a North London native, the candle emitted huge flames and bits of debris were flying everywhere. The room was set ablaze, and the heat was too intense to touch. Goop stated that they could not confirm the authenticity of the candle as it was not purchased through their outlet. Despite this, they assured customers that they prioritize safety and have alerted the manufacturer to the incident. As a gesture of goodwill, they also offered the affected woman some Goop products to help pass the time during quarantine.

Other individuals have also spoken out against Goop, including Elise Loehnen, the former chief content officer who criticized the company's emphasis on cleanses in a March 2022 Instagram video. Loehnen shared that after leaving Goop, she made a conscious decision to rebel against the idea of cleansing and to let go of unhealthy expectations for her body. She explained that she needed to break free from self-criticism and punishment, and has since stopped weighing herself entirely. In the video, Loehnen expressed her desire to reconnect with her body, but Goop and Paltrow have yet to respond to these criticisms.