According to Page Six, Odell’s book claims Gwyneth Paltrow referred to ex-friend Winona Ryder as “Vagina Ryder” —a term widely condemned online as vulgar, misogynistic, and deeply inappropriate. The nickname reportedly emerged after Paltrow began to distrust Ryder, believing she fabricated dramatic stories to gain sympathy, particularly in the wake of Paltrow’s breakup with Brad Pitt.
The rift deepened when Paltrow moved into Ryder’s New York apartment and began dating Ben Affleck, then best friend of Matt Damon, who was dating Ryder. Tensions escalated when Ryder claimed she was robbed twice—a claim Paltrow and Affleck reportedly believed was staged, despite no evidence. _“Damon comforted Ryder, but Paltrow and Affleck thought the incidents were fabricated,” Odell writes. The crude nickname became emblematic of the hostility that followed.
The biography also revives rumors that Paltrow stole her Oscar-winning role in Shakespeare in Love from Ryder—an allegation Paltrow has long denied. She insists she landed the part through her agent and believes Ryder was behind the gossip that suggested otherwise.
While Paltrow has never named Ryder directly, she previously referenced a toxic friendship on her blog, writing: “There was once a friend-turned-enemy who did everything possible to hurt me. I was devastated and furious when I realized someone I liked was actually poisonous and dangerous.” Fans have long speculated that she was referring to Ryder.
This revelation comes amid renewed online scrutiny of toxic dynamics in both Hollywood and corporate spaces—especially following recent controversies surrounding the Astronomer HR scandal , though the two matters are unrelated. Still, the timing has intensified discussions about accountability, misogyny, and power in high-profile relationships.
As Odell’s biography continues to stir headlines, it sheds new light on the complexities of female friendships in the limelight—and how even decades-old wounds can still leave scars on public perception.
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