Gwenyth Paltrow is a girl’s girl, Pedro Pascal keeps getting hotter, and is Blake Lively that influential?| Popping In Vol. 17

Gwyneth Paltrow clears up Meghan Markle rumors, Pedro Pascal calls out J.K. Rowling, and Megyn Kelly is doing what she does best: being the worst.

We did it, kids - we made it through the Lorde drought. I hope you’ve all been loving this new single as much as I have. We are so incredibly back. I’m writing this week’s newsletter on the Long Island Rail Road which always makes me feel nostalgic about taking trips into Manhattan when I was growing up, so having a new Lorde song to listen to as I write just feels correct. (Watch my reaction to the song here)

I’m going to see The Last Bimbo of the Apocolypse tonight (thanks S’more!), an off-Broadway show all about a fourth girl who was in the car the night Lindsay, Britney, and Paris took the infamous ‘Bimbo Summit’ photo. Can you think of anything more Andrew-coded!? We’ll chat about it on this Wednesday’s podcast episode.

Speaking of the podcast, this week we talked about the next generation of pop stars (focusing on Doechii and Chappell Roan), Coachella Weekend Two, SZA and Kendrick’s Tour kicking off, and more.

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For everyone who’s up to date on all the moments from the week that were Too Pop to Handle, here are some extra tidbits to keep you in the loop.

Gwenyth Paltrow is shutting down Meghan Markle feud rumors (again)

Something I think we need to leave in the past is how every time a woman starts a wellness or lifestyle brand, everyone assumes they’re on Gwenyth Paltrow’s hit list. I’m going to hold your hand when I say this: Goop is fine regardless of how many similar brands there are. Meghan Markle has been back to work which includes the launch of her new brand ‘As Ever’. Not only is this not Meghan’s first dip into lifestyle content (does nobody remember ‘The Tig’???), but this is now the third time Gwenyth has had to comment on the fact that she wishes nothing but the best for Meghan on this endeavor. On her episode of The World's First Podcast with Erin & Sara Foster, she stated “You know what I won’t be at this point in my life? I won’t be a pawn in some drummed-up, triangulation of women feud for your f–king clickbait,” later adding ‘I wish Meghan nothing but the best. Like, it’s so great what she’s doing. I’m proud of her, every woman deserves to go into anything they want to do.”

I think the idea that Gwenyth is automatically going to have resentment towards anyone who starts a brand similar to hers is such a tired narrative. It was tired with Kourtney Kardashian’s ‘Poosh’, Jessica Alba’s ‘Honest’, and every other lifestyle launch we’ve seen in the last 10+ years. As Gwentyh once said:

Pedro Pascal gets hotter by calling J.K. Rowling a “heinous loser”

Just when I thought Pedro Pascal couldn’t get hotter, he proved me wrong once again. He took to Tariq Raouf’s Instagram comments urging users to boycott anything related to Harry Potter due to J.K. Rowling’s continued transphobic rhetoric she continuously spreads saying “Awful disgusting SHIT is exactly right. Heinous LOSER behavior.” *swoons*

He’s also been seen wearing the Conner Ives ‘Protect The Dolls’ t-shirt on multiple occasions, but most notably on the red carpet at a screening of “Thunderbolts".

All proceeds from the sale of this t-shirt will be donated directly to Trans Lifeline, a trans-lead US-based charity that delivers life-saving services to those who need them most. The hotline connects trans people to a wider community, offering support and resources they need to survive and thrive. Given the US Federal government's current hostility towards trans people, support like this is needed now more than ever.

You can pre-order the t-shirt here

Megyn Kelly claims Blake Lively has “no influence” at the Time100 Gala

You know what they say…it do take nerve. Blake Lively was honored at the Time100 Gala this week as one of Time’s “Most Influential People of 2025” and gave a speech in which she revealed her mother was previously assaulted and is a survivor of “the worst crime someone can commit against a woman.” After the year and change that Blake has had, I was shocked to see her give a speech after she’s been so tightlipped after the ongoing ‘It Ends With Us’ drama. Megyn Kelly, who has continuously ragged on Blake through this entire saga, told the DailyMail “It’s a ridiculous joke. She shouldn’t be here. She has no influence over anything.” when asked about how she felt about Blake Lively being at the event. How miserable do you have to be to answer a question at a Time Magazine Gala this way? As someone who has the opening scene of Gossip Girl burned into their brains, I would say Blake Lively is incredibly influential.

I guess when your TIME100 bio is written by a member of the Tr*mp family, I shouldn't be surprised. However, I'll never find anything funny about women tearing each other down. Take a note from Gwenyth, Miserable Megyn.

New Music This Week

• Lorde - What Was That

• Megan thee Stallion - Whenever

• Maude Latour - Miss America

• Coco Jones - Why Not More?

I hope you all have fabulous weekends ahead of you, I’ll chat with you on the podcast on Wednesday! 💖🌟