If you are watching Apple TV+’s WeCrashed, you might assume you are going to get the true-life story of the rise and fall of the co-working space startup, WeWork. Well, think again, because there is an A-list celebrity who plays into some of the early episodes in ways viewers never imagined. Yep, Gwyneth Paltrow is a subplot in Rebekah Neumann’s life.
Rebekah is the wife of WeWork co-founder Adam Neumann, and also Paltrow’s first cousin (their dads were brothers). You won’t find the Goop founder portrayed onscreen, but her name is mentioned quite a bit because her Hollywood achievements possibly put pressure on Rebekah to succeed as well. What makes their connection even more fascinating is that they both had an interest in the wellness and entertainment industries. Rebekah gave an acting career a try, but it didn’t work out for her as it did for Paltrow. And then you have the Oscar winner diving into the second stage of her career with Goop while Rebekah was a certified yoga instructor — there was always a competition going on even if Paltrow wasn’t participating in the race.
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Showrunner and co-creator of WeCrashed Lee Eisenberg explained to Entertainment Tonight how they wanted the Iron Man star’s presence without actually having her in front of the camera. “There was no interest in casting someone for Gwyneth Paltrow and playing that up in any way,” he said. “I think that would have taken you out of the show and also not the story that we wanted to tell. Eisenberg revealed that the actress’ background presence “reflects on Rebekah and how it informs the character.”
Showrunner and co-creator Drew Crevello added that Paltrow’s “megastar and mega-talent” cast a shadow over Neumann — and possibly drove her to succeed at any cost. The cousins eventually teamed up to promote Rebekah’s private school called WeGrow, which was designed as a disruptor to the education system. While the school is now in limbo after the Neumanns’ ouster from WeWork, Rebekah hopes to revive it as Students Of Life For Life, or SOLFL, which is pronounced as “soulful.” It fits right into Paltrow’s Goop brand, but it does leave a lot of questions on the table: Are the cousins still close? Would Paltrow promote Rebekah’s brand again? It’s a fascinating look at familial relationships, money and how the call to stardom impacts everyone around them.
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