Gwyneth Paltrow’s former relationship with Ben Affleck is back in the spotlight, as a new biography shares previously unknown, and highly personal, details about the couple’s time together in the late 1990s.
In Gwyneth: The Biography, author Amy Odell recounts an anecdote originally shared by the late celebrity makeup artist Kevyn Aucoin. According to the book, Paltrow privately spoke to Aucoin about an intimate moment with Affleck, revealing a side of her personality that contrasted with her polished public image.
While the book references a specific sexual act that Paltrow allegedly said she enjoyed during her relationship with Affleck. Odell writes that the moment reflected "the ribald side of her that her friends knew well but that the public didn’t see."
“She told Kevyn Aucoin in his London hotel room one day after lunch that she loved when Affleck ‘tea-b****d’ her,” Odell said.
Representatives for both Paltrow and Affleck have not commented on the claim.
Paltrow and Affleck began dating in 1997 after co-starring in the film Shakespeare in Love, and their relationship continued until 2000. Though they were often regarded as one of Hollywood’s most high-profile couples at the time, Odell suggests that their breakup was linked to underlying personal challenges.
“Their physical chemistry couldn’t overcome his self-destructive impulses, which may have even included cheating on her,” the biography alleges. The author also claims that Affleck was, during that period, “struggling with alcoholism and a gambling problem.”
According to Odell, Paltrow’s close friends reportedly had concerns about the relationship, with some feeling that Affleck did not consistently show her the same level of affection she gave him.
“He at times seemed more interested in playing video games with the guys at his house than being with Gwyneth,” the book claims, per Marie Claire.
Since their split, both actors have moved on. Paltrow later married Coldplay frontman Chris Martin, with whom she shares two children. After their separation, she married television producer Brad Falchuk in 2018.
Affleck, meanwhile, was previously married to actress Jennifer Garner from 2005 to 2018. He later rekindled a relationship with pop star Jennifer Lopez, marrying her in 2022. The couple reportedly separated in 2025.
Over the years, Paltrow has become known for her wellness and lifestyle brand Goop, which often garners headlines for its unconventional product offerings and open discussions about sexuality.
Among the brand’s most notable products was the now-discontinued $75 candle labeled “This Smells Like My Vagina,” per The Guardian. It was later followed by similarly themed candles titled “This Smells Like My Orgasm” and “This Smells Like My Prenup.”
Gwyneth: The Biography is set for release on July 29.