The Real Story Behind Gwyneth Paltrow's New Goop Disposable Diapers That Cost $120

Hollywood actress Gwyneth Paltrow has released new Goop disposable diapers with a $120 price tag per pack of 12 pieces and it's drawing a lot of strong reactions on social media.

In an Instagram post, Paltrow's lifestyle brand described the luxury diapers as "lined with virgin alpaca wool" with a special fastener made from amber gemstones that supposedly bring "emotional-cleansing properties."

Since Paltrow launched Goop in 2008, it has been the subject of scrutiny and criticism for its questionable claims on health and wellness. Goop released jade eggs that were supposed to help moms regulate their monthly period and improve their bladder control. The company also touted other wellness products that allegedly help with weight loss or depression.

But followers of the brand thought Paltrow was joking about the new Goop disposable diapers considering that many families are currently struggling with the high cost of living. Some, however, realized that this was a PR stunt, which Paltrow explained the next day.

Gwyneth Paltrow and Goop Get the Struggles of Families

Following the outcry, Goop's PR company released a statement saying that the new Goop disposable diapers were a satire and that there is no actual product for sale. The truth was Goop partnered with Baby2Baby, the charity diaper bank, to help with securing diapers and other baby essentials that will be distributed to many struggling American families.

The PR company also revealed that Paltrow wanted to "start a conversation" about the high cost of diapers, an absolute necessity for families with babies. Apparently, this essential is taxed as a luxury good in 33 states, which drives its price by seven percent.

Paltrow said in a video that she's glad the Goop luxury diapers drew "a lot of outrage" because that was the point of the advertisement.

"If treating diapers like a luxury makes you mad, so should taxing them like a luxury," the actress said, per Page Six.

The mom-of-two said that she never thought of the cost of diapers before until someone in her team talked about the diaper tax. Through Goop, the actress has also been speaking and calling on the government to cut the tax on baby essentials. She urged her followers to look at Goop's official site to learn more about this advocacy and donate to the cause.

Access to Diapers Harder During the Pandemic

Baby2Baby's chief executives Norah Weinstein and Kelly Sawyer Patricof said that the pandemic in the last two years has made access to diapers more challenging for families living in poverty. Babies who can't wear clean diapers develop illnesses that affect their well-being and development.

Weinstein and Patricof said that while their charity provides for vulnerable families by manufacturing their own diapers for charity, they also need to advocate for changes in the policies that impact many children. Thus, they agreed to launch this campaign with Goop to raise awareness about this problem, The Drum reported.