Gwyneth Paltrow’s wellness brand Goop recently received a flood of criticism for a newly announced item: the “Diapér.”
“Meet The Diapér. Our new disposable diaper lined with virgin alpaca wool and fastened with amber gemstones, known for their ancient emotional-cleansing properties,” an Instagram post on Goop’s profile read last week, informing followers that the lifestyle company would be charging $120 for a 12 pack of these fancy diapers.
While Goop has been known to sell a number of unnecessarily “bougie” items, like a “This Smells Like My Vagina” candle and a $2000 Ouija board, there was quite a lot of backlash and confusion this time around.
In a press release, it was revealed that the “Diapér” launch was actually a PR stunt between Goop and Baby2Baby, a nonprofit diaper bank that collects and distributes diapers and other essential items for children around the United States.
“Goop launched a luxury disposable diaper at $120 for a pack of 12 and there was a lot of outrage. Good,” Paltrow said of the reaction to Goop’s advertisement. “It was designed to piss us off. Because if treating diapers like a luxury makes you mad, so should taxing them like a luxury.”
“Despite the absolute necessity of diapers, in 33 states, they aren’t treated as an essential item. They’re taxed as a luxury good. (We priced our fictional Diapérs at $120, because that is what the diaper tax could cost families annually),” the caption went on to read, encouraging followers and fans to donate what they can to Baby2Baby. “Right now, many families in need are also struggling as a result of the nationwide formula shortage.”
—
Photo credit: Ron Adar / Shutterstock.com