Gwyneth Paltrow is taking on critics of her lifestyle Web site, Goop.com, just days after The New York Times published an article questioning the site's relevance in light of a barrage of published swipes against its cardio-workout and pizza-recipe content. Also under attack: the site's perceived omniscient tone.
"I think the people who are criticizing it or criticizing the idea of it, don't really get it, because if they did, they would like it," Paltrow, 36, told PEOPLE Wednesday night at a New York City benefit she hosted for Bent On Learning, a non-profit organization which arranges yoga and meditation classes in the city's public schools.
Yet as The Times noted, "many critics find the enterprise fatuous and a bit puzzling." Typical is a query from Toronto's The Globe and Mail: "Why is it called Goop?" its writer asked. "Perhaps 'Any Old Load of Rubbish' and 'Learn From Me, Ungrateful Peasant' were both taken."
Paltrow said she believes some of the barbs simply stem from the fact that she's doing something new and different. "I think that people like people to stay in their 'box' — they like people to stay how they are comfortable seeing them."
'Amazing, Super, Fortunate Life'
The “Shakespeare in Love” Oscar winner told PEOPLE of Goop.com, "There's nothing incendiary about it. I find it really interesting because it's a harmless [news]letter that goes out each week."
Slideshow 26 photos
Celebrity Sightings
With The New York Times asking "why is she suddenly on TV giving dieting and fitness tips, backing a gym, writing a cookbook and an online newsletter full of shopping advice, kabbalistic musings and discussion of the Master Cleanse?" Paltrow says she decided to launch the Web site, which carries the tagline, "Nourish The Inner Aspect," "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."
In addition, she said, "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."