Yardbarker
Yardbarker
x
Gwyneth Paltrow and Duchess of Sussex are 'text friends'
(c) Getty Images

Gwyneth Paltrow and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex have a "text friendship".

The Oscar-winning actress has revealed that she keeps in touch with the Duchess - who has been married to Prince Harry since 2018 - via text message, but the celebrity duo have "not yet" spent a lot of time together in person.

Gwyneth, 52, told People: "We have a text friendship so far. I've been travelling quite a bit."

The movie star also rubbished speculation that she has any problems with Meghan, 43.

Responding to the online speculation, Gwyneth said: "I don't like that, when people try to pit women against each other."

The Hollywood star revealed that she's actually open to the idea of appearing on 'With Love, Meghan', the Duchess' lifestyle show.

Asked if she'd be open to appearing on the Netflix series, Gwyneth replied: "Sure! Why not? You never know. I don't bake that well, but I can always try."

Earlier this year, Gwyneth dismissed the idea that she sees Meghan as "competition".

The actress has enjoyed significant success with her Goop wellness brand, but she doesn't consider the Duchess to be a rival.

Gwyneth - who has focused her attention on her wellness brand in recent years - told Vanity Fair magazine in March: "I was raised to see other women as friends, not foes. I think there’s always more than enough to go around.

"Everybody deserves an attempt at everything that they want to try. Another woman is never your competition."

Meanwhile, Ted Sarandos - the CEO of Netflix - recently claimed that the Duchess is "underestimated in terms of her influence on culture".

The TV executive observed that "people are fascinated with Meghan Markle" and the actress' influence extends into various spheres, including the fashion world.

Speaking to Variety, he shared: "I think Meghan is underestimated in terms of her influence on culture.

"When we dropped the trailer for the 'Harry and Meghan' doc series, everything on-screen was dissected in the press for days. The shoes she was wearing sold out all over the world. The Hermes blanket that was on the chair behind her sold out everywhere in the world.

"People are fascinated with Meghan Markle."

This article first appeared on BANG Showbiz and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads:

TODAY'S BEST

LEGO Reveals Batman Arkham Asylum Set
Entertainment

LEGO Reveals Batman Arkham Asylum Set

Thanks to recent comics and especially the video game series, Arkham Asylum has become maybe the most famous and popular location in Batman’s world, second only to the Batcave itself. A creepy, Gothic manor retrofitted into a facility for the criminally insane has enough atmosphere for dozens of stories. It also makes for the perfect big ol’ building set from LEGO. As announced Wednesday evening, the LEGO Group have unveiled the latest addition to their DC Batman collection. LEGO DC Batman Arkham Asylum will be both a display piece and “a unique 24-day Advent calendar.” Intriguing. The set has a robust 2,953 pieces and splits into three segments. First floor, second floor, and roof, plus removable elements that make it possible to access the interior. Each room (or cell) has an opening door and the set also has an “inmate delivery van” (can’t be what that’s really called) plus 65 stickers referencing Batman lore. But as LEGO people know, the real draw of these sets are the minifigures. The Arkham Asylum set comes with 16 minifigures of well known heroes and villains. Batman, Batwoman, Batwing, Robin, Mr. Freeze, The Riddler, Poison Ivy, Catwoman, Scarecrow, Harley Quinn, Bane, The Joker, The Penguin, Killer Croc, and 2 security guards. You can pretend one of the guards is Aaron Cash if you’d like. Take a look at the set in the gallery below. The folks at LEGO maintains builders can assemble this set gradually as an Advent calendar. It would certainly make it easier and more manageable. Something to look forward to for sure each day. The LEGO DC Batman™ collection: the LEGO DC Batman™ Arkham Asylum™ set will be available for LEGO Insiders* Early Access starting 9th September 2025 at LEGO.com/Arkham and via LEGO Stores, with availability for all from 12th September 2025, priced at €299.99 / £269.99 / $299.99. *LEGO Insiders membership required. Kyle Anderson is the Senior Editor for Nerdist. He hosts the weekly pop culture deep-dive podcast Laser Focus. You can find his film and TV reviews here. Follow him on Letterboxd.

Biggest impact of Josh Naylor trade may still be to come
MLB

Biggest impact of Josh Naylor trade may still be to come

While the Seattle Mariners landed an impact bat on Thursday night, their trade for Josh Naylor has also likely impacted the entire upcoming MLB trade deadline. On Thursday, Seattle sent a pair of top pitching prospects to the Arizona Diamondbacks in exchange for Naylor, with left-hander Brandyn Garcia (ranked as Seattle's 13th-best prospect by MLB.com) and right-hander Ashton Izzi (ranked as Seattle's 16th-best prospect by the same rankings) heading to the desert. Knowing what the Diamondbacks received in exchange for Naylor could well set the market for what is to come between now and the conclusion of the 2025 MLB trade deadline, set for 6 p.m. (Eastern) on July 31. The 28-year-old first baseman was ranked by The Athletic as the 17th-best trade candidate likely to be available, but ranked behind just one other first baseman (Baltimore's Ryan O'Hearn, who was slotted in at 16th). If Naylor brought in a pair of pitching prospects, including Garcia, who has appeared in two games this season for Seattle, the Diamondbacks could be salivating over what third baseman Eugenio Suarez and his 36 home runs could bring in return. All MLB teams who will be buying or selling at this year's trade deadline have had the first price bar set for them with the Naylor deal. Now it will be fascinating to see what comes next, especially knowing that Naylor will be a free agent at the end of this season. If Seattle gave up two pitching prospects for a player who could be a late-season rental only, imagine what the Minnesota Twins may be able to recoup for starting pitcher Joe Ryan (under team control through the 2027 season) or the Boston Red Sox might get back for outfielder Jarren Duran, who won't be a free agent until the 2029 campaign. While Naylor may not be the biggest move to come during this span before the trade deadline comes to a close, his deal could be the one that establishes selling prices for the trades that are to come. With so few MLB teams expected to be outright sellers, the price for available talent was expected to be high. We learned on Thursday night with the Naylor swap just how high those prices may go.

Chris Pronger to Connor McDavid: A Lost Edmonton Oilers Decade
NHL

Chris Pronger to Connor McDavid: A Lost Edmonton Oilers Decade

In the spring of 2006, Chris Pronger was traded to the Edmonton Oilers. He then did something no one thought possible: he made the Edmonton Oilers a Stanley Cup contender again. That playoff run was legendary. Pronger logged enormous minutes, quarterbacked the power play, killed penalties, and led the team in scoring. In every zone and every moment, he was the difference-maker. He was the kind of player who gave an entire franchise a sense of direction—and belief. And then, just weeks after that Game 7 heartbreak in Carolina, he was gone. The Impact of the Oilers Losing a True No. 1 Blueliner Pronger’s trade request stunned the city and changed everything. Instead of building around a generational defenseman in his prime, the Oilers entered a prolonged decline. The team wouldn’t return to the playoffs for another decade. But what if he had stayed? It’s not just about Pronger’s elite play. It’s about the ripple effect of having that kind of presence anchoring a lineup. With Pronger in the fold, free agents might have been more willing to come. The team wouldn’t have scrambled to fill the void on the blue line with a carousel of short-term fixes. Young players could have developed under a true leader instead of inheriting pressure without support. The Oilers Championship Window Closed Too Soon The Oilers were close in 2006. It was not a fluke, but it was a team suddenly galvanized by elite goaltending from Dwayne Roloson, role players like Mike Peca, top-six grit like Ryan Smyth and Fernando Pisani, and above all, Pronger’s towering presence. Run it back even one more year, and who knows? A healthy Roloson, a stabilized core, and the confidence of a team that knew how close they came. Perhaps 2007 would be the season that ended differently for the Oilers. Instead, the Oilers lost their best player and wandered through the wilderness for ten years. How bad did the Oilers become? The 2006–07 season was a major disappointment in Edmonton, capped by the emotional deadline trade of fan favorite Smyth to the New York Islanders. That collapse marked the beginning of a long drought, as the team went on to miss the playoffs for 10 straight seasons until finally returning in 2016–17. Hockey Is Filled with What Ifs, the Oilers Are No Exception Hockey is full of what-ifs. But this one lingers. Because Pronger did come to Edmonton, and he did show what was possible. And for one electric spring, it looked like the Oilers had found the player who could lead them back to greatness. We just never got to find out how far that road might have gone. Fortunately, the team’s return to the playoffs in 2016–17 was spearheaded by Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. And that’s where the team is today. It’s a new era of success, but it took ten years to get there.

Packers Could Replace Jaire Alexander With Player You Wouldn’t Believe
NFL

Packers Could Replace Jaire Alexander With Player You Wouldn’t Believe

The Green Bay Packers released star cornerback Jaire Alexander earlier this offseason, which frustrated the fan base because they did so without an obvious solution. Packers fans have been clamoring for the team to sign veteran and former Defensive Player of the Year Stephon Gilmore, but Green Bay does not appear all that interested in doing so. But you know who could represent a possible replacement for Alexander? Wide receiver Bo Melton. Yes, you read that right: wide receiver Bo Melton. Melton has started Packers training camp as a cornerback, which could ultimately lead to the 26-year-old assuming a major role in Green Bay’s secondary. Why the position switch? Well, Melton was struggling finding playing time in the Packers’ receiving corps as it was. Now, Green Bay added Matthew Golden and Savon Williams into the equation, so the chances of him actually getting on the field as a receiver in 2025 are slim to none. Melton logged just eight catches for 91 yards last season, and in 2024, he finished with 16 receptions for 218 yards and a touchdown. The funny thing is, he actually has shown promise in very limited action, but there is simply no room for him. The Rutgers product seems to want to stay in Green Bay, hence his decision to flip to the other side of the ball. He knows he has no chance to play as a wide out. Why not utilize his athleticism as a cornerback? Of course, this does not necessarily mean that Melton will serve as Alexander’s primary replacement. In fact, it would be pretty concerning if the Packers choose not to bring in another corner between now and the start of the regular season. But hey, maybe Melton will be so impressive in camp that Green Bay will actually give him a look.

Customize Your Newsletter

Yardbarker +

Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!