Gwyneth Paltrow, the Oscar-winning actress turned wellness mogul, is once again at the center of controversy — this time for her blunt response to criticism surrounding her infamous $75 “This Smells Like My Vagina” candle.

In a recent interview, Paltrow didn’t hold back when asked about the backlash she’s received for selling the candle through her wellness brand, Goop. “Go f–k yourself!” she said with a confident smirk. “If you don’t like it, don’t buy it.”

The candle, which made headlines when it launched, is described as having notes of geranium, citrusy bergamot, and cedar absolutes, meant to capture a “funny, gorgeous, sexy, and beautifully unexpected scent.” But the name, of course, is what set the internet on fire.

Critics called it vulgar, tasteless, and a PR stunt. Others saw it as a feminist power move — a way of reclaiming and destigmatizing female anatomy. Gwyneth says it was meant to provoke thought and conversation. “We’ve been taught to be ashamed of our bodies for centuries,” she said. “Why not laugh a little and own it instead?”

She further explained that the candle wasn’t meant to be literal. “It’s a joke. It started as a joke. But like most things with Goop, we took the idea and ran with it because we saw how strongly people reacted — and that’s the point.”

Paltrow’s wellness empire has long lived on the edge of controversy. From jade eggs to vampire repellent sprays, Goop has repeatedly pushed the envelope. But that’s part of her brand’s identity. “We challenge norms. We question shame. And sometimes, we swear,” she said unapologetically.

Social media reaction to her response was — as expected — explosive. Some fans applauded her boldness and saw her words as a clapback against misogyny. “She’s fierce and fearless. Let her live,” one user tweeted. Others, however, found her words offensive and tone-deaf, especially given the luxury pricing and tone of the product. “Gwyneth is out of touch,” one critic commented.

Still, controversy aside, the candle continues to sell out each time it’s restocked. It has become a symbol — for better or worse — of Goop’s boundary-pushing ethos and Gwyneth’s unapologetic personality.

In the same interview, she admitted that the backlash used to get under her skin. “People always want to tear women down when they do something different. I’ve learned to stop caring.”

Asked if she regrets naming the candle the way she did, she laughed. “Not at all. In fact, we might be working on a new one: ‘This Smells Like My Orgasm.’ Oh wait… we already did that too.”

Love her or hate her, Gwyneth Paltrow is staying true to who she is: confident, unfiltered, and boldly unbothered by public opinion. In a world of curated images and safe answers, her brutal honesty is, if nothing else, refreshingly real.