Gwyneth Paltrow, I want to like you. But you and your health "expertise" are making it hard.

Gwynnie's apparently taking a bit of a break from opening a gym, releasing an exercise DVD, detoxing, raiding Posh's closet, the very real/London/Hollywood/Madge's bestie life of a mom/wife/icon/A-lister/food critic to get all indignant about her website, the oft-criticized Goop.com.

A New York Times article (I really recommend you read it) compiled criticism of her recent professional ventures (that it seems will also include a family cookbook), noting, "In recent months, she has been scrutinized sharply in various newspapers and on many blogs for her surprising and broad-ranging forays into the arenas of lifestyle guru-dom, from fitness to cooking."

Then Gwyneth fired back. She certainly didn't rant or rave or F-bomb anyone in response, but she did give a response that seemed pretty "you're just saying that because you're jealous of me" with a New Age-y slant.

"I think the people who are criticizing it or criticizing the idea of [my website], don't really get it, because if they did, they would like it," she told People magazine last week.

So there. I guess. People don't get it (which gives me pause because it's a pretty simple site, in both design and content). Or, maybe people don't buy it. Whichever.

This isn't the first time Gwyneth's gotten defensive about her site and non-acting ambitions. The Times cites a recent USA Today interview that included her response to being mocked about Goop.com.

"People get a hit of energy when they are negative about something and they do not understand why they do not have a happy life," she said.

She went on to defend dispensing fitness, cooking, cleansing, and other health information on her site "because I felt like I had a lot of really useful information that I was privileged enough to get, because I have this amazing, super, fortunate life." Plus, she says her friends come to her for advice, so why wouldn't the masses?

"My friends call me all the time to say, 'Where should I go?' or 'What should I do?' And I thought, you know maybe some other people would be interested in it as well, so I started it, and it's doing great" she told People.

Well, at least it is going well with her friends, or people who "get it." Or people who get it. Or want to get. As puzzling as it is to critics that she is launching such a widespread campaign to whip people into shape, Gwyneth maintains she is just doing a "harmless little [news]letter that goes out each week."

I really do want to like her. I may even want to sweat along with her on a DVD. But all of this makes me roll my eyes and wish Gwyneth would focus more on making another Shakepeare In Love-caliber film and leave the rest to Bob Greene, Jillian Michaels, or even her trainer.

Does Gwyneth Paltrow's passion (or defensiveness) make you want to work out (or just turn down the "privileged" and "informed" whining)?

Are you willing to have an actor as your health and lifestyle expert? Or does it take something more?


[photo credit: Ray Tamarra/Getty Images Entertainment]