Colin Firth's ex-wife cancels Gwyneth Paltrow's farm visit over Israeli property ad: 'Unacceptable'
MONTECITO, CALIFORNIA: Environmental activist Livia Giuggioli Firth has publicly criticized actress Gwyneth Paltrow and canceled the Oscar winner’s planned visit to a sustainable farm in Italy following backlash over her appearance in an advertisement for a luxury Israeli real estate development.
The controversy has sparked debate online, with critics objecting to the promotion of high-end property amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza. The former wife of actor Colin Firth said Paltrow had been expected to visit the farm in the coming weeks before the invitation was withdrawn.
Gwyneth Paltrow dropped from Italian farm event
Livia announced that she had canceled Paltrow’s upcoming visit to Quintosapore, the sustainable farm she co-founded with her brothers, Alessandro and Nicola, on the Tuscan-Umbrian border. According to her, Paltrow had been expected to take part in a “soil-to-fork farm experience” at the property in the coming weeks.
In a video posted on Instagram, she explained her decision, stating, “I just cancelled Gwyneth Paltrow. She was supposed to come to the farm in a couple of weeks time on a tour, a soil-to-fork farm experience. And we just cancelled her because what she did is completely unacceptable.”
The activist also used the video to call on people in Hollywood to take action.
Referring to her own experiences, she said, “I actually have an appeal for everyone in Hollywood, who for so many years cancelled people who were speaking out about the g**ocide.”
Livia recalled being discouraged from sharing her activism publicly, saying that “even me. I remember being at the Green Fashion Awards and I was told by lots of agents that you shouldn't post on Instagram what you do, your activism. And of course I'm going to keep speaking.”
She continued by expressing hope that attitudes within the entertainment industry would change: “Now, I hope the reverse is going to happen - that Hollywood and people in Hollywood are going to start cancelling those who actually support it.”
She added, “Because it's not even being silent. There is no excuse for being silent anymore - and many, many people are silent. So let's not even go to the, ‘If you're silent, you're complicit argument.’”
Gwyneth Paltrow criticized over Israeli real estate ad
The criticism stems from Paltrow’s involvement in an advertisement promoting 51 Park, a 51-story luxury residential development in Herzliya, a city north of Tel Aviv. The project is located approximately an hour and a half's drive from Gaza.
The commercial was reportedly filmed in New York and later attracted widespread attention online. Some social media users accused Paltrow of supporting Israel’s actions during the conflict, while critics objected to the promotion of luxury real estate as Palestinians continue to face displacement and violence.
Addressing the advertisement directly, Livia stated, “She actually actively promoted it, so it's totally complicit.”
She further criticized the campaign, saying, “Making an ad for a luxury condo is as disgusting as it can be for someone with privilege. It's like how detached are you from reality? You're either so detached that you need to be cancelled, because you live in another world.”
Livia continued, “Or you're actually a really, really nasty person. Or you are stupid. Which of the three are you, Gwyneth Paltrow? And definitely you are not coming to our farm!”
In the advertisement, Paltrow begins her day in a New York apartment before going for a run in Central Park.
She later enters a taxi and asks to be taken to “51 Park.” When the driver assumes she means a location in New York, she clarifies that she is referring to “Herzliya, Israel,” before adding, “There’s a reason the world’s most iconic buildings are by a park.”
