Celebrity

The 'Avengers: Infinity War' actress garners criticism from yoga fans after she said in an interview that the ancient Indian practice got a surge in popularity because of her.

• Dec 6, 2018

AceShowbiz - Gwyneth Paltrow has incurred the wrath of yoga fans after taking credit for bringing the ancient Indian practice to the mainstream.

In a bold new interview with WSJ. Magazine, the actress and Goop founder declared that yoga's surge in popularity was all down to her, and people had initially called her a "witch" and a "freak" after she became involved in the spiritual practice.

"Forgive me if this comes out wrong, but I went to do a yoga class in L.A. recently and the 22-year-old girl behind the counter was like, 'Have you ever done yoga before?' And literally I turned to my friend, and I was like, 'You have this job because I've done yoga before'," Gwyneth boasted.

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Newly remarried, Goop CEO Gwyneth Paltrow is living her best life—and believes she can help you live yours better, too. Founded by Paltrow as a niche website, Goop has since incorporated and its valuation hit $250 million this year. For many, it serves as an unofficial portal to all things wellness, with Paltrow in the role of patron saint—and lightning rod. “I’m so happy to suffer those slings and arrows, because if you look at the culture from then to now, people are so curious,” Paltrow says of her critics. “It’s so beautiful to see people feeling empowered by natural solutions or ancient modalities alongside science and medicine.” Read the full cover story online now, on newsstands 12/15. (✒: @elk_elisa, 📸: @lachlanbailey, styling by @georgecortina) #WSJMagazine

A post shared by WSJ. Magazine (@wsjmag) on Dec 4, 2018 at 5:59am PST

Her comments have not gone down well though, with Twitter users venting their anger at her ignorance.

"yoga has been around for thousands of years and gwyneth paltrow thinks she invented it," one user tweeted, while another said, "OMG. It was really Gwyneth Paltrow who wrote the Yoga Sutras THOUSANDS of years ago?! Wow, and she Time travels!! What an idiot. She is Hollywood's Trump in terms of narcissism."

yoga has been around for thousands of years and gwyneth paltrow thinks she invented it 🤦🏼‍♀️ pic.twitter.com/XC6cST6aNt

— blank (@kelly4prezz) December 5, 2018

OMG. It was really Gwyneth Paltrow who wrote the Yoga Sutras THOUSANDS of years ago?! Wow, and she Time travels!! What an idiot. She is Hollywood’s Trump in terms of narcissism.

— lori webber (@heartembrace) December 5, 2018

A third posted, "My brown self did not know that Gwyneth Paltrow invented yoga. This is Peak White Nonsense."

My brown self did not know that Gwyneth Paltrow invented yoga. This is Peak White Nonsense. pic.twitter.com/WSeaVVTPwr

— Tarin Gill (@TarinGill) December 4, 2018

Others pointed out that Marilyn Monroe, who died 10 years before 46-year-old Gwyneth was even born, was a big fan of yoga.

Raquel Welch, Shirley MacLaine, Barbra Streisand, Michael Jackson and Jeff Bridges were also all clients of Bikram Choudhury's Bikram yoga movement in the early mid '70s.