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Gwyneth Paltrow isn’t holding back when it comes to discussing her infamous ski accident trial—and she’s making it clear that the experience left her both baffled and frustrated.
During an appearance on the April 24 episode of The World’s First Podcast, hosted by Erin and Sara Foster, the Oscar-winning actress opened up about the highly publicized legal battle she faced in connection with a 2016 skiing incident. “The idea that someone could ski into your back and knock you down—and then sue you?” Paltrow said. “I was like, ‘This is everything that’s wrong with our legal system.’”
The case revolved around an accident at a Utah ski resort, where retired optometrist Terry Sanderson accused Paltrow of crashing into him and causing serious injuries. He initially sued her for $3.1 million, later reducing the amount. Paltrow, denying the claims, fired back with a countersuit—asking for a symbolic $1 in damages plus legal fees, standing firm that she was not at fault.
On the podcast, Paltrow explained why she chose to take the case to trial instead of quietly settling. “It was just so ridiculous,” she said. “That’s why I felt like I had to fight it. I’m not going to be shaken down. I’m not doing that.”
The trial, which took place in March 2023, became a media spectacle—not just because of the legal drama, but because of how much attention fans paid to Paltrow’s courtroom fashion. From her neutral-toned sweaters to minimalist glasses, social media was abuzz with comments on her outfits, prompting the podcast hosts to joke that viewers were more interested in her looks than the actual case. They teased that the real entertainment was watching Gwyneth’s barely concealed annoyance at having to be there in the first place.
In the end, the jury sided with Paltrow, ruling that Sanderson was 100% at fault for the crash. The verdict came after just a few hours of deliberation. As she left the courtroom, Paltrow appeared to whisper something to Sanderson, which he later told reporters was her wishing him well—a gesture he described as “very kind.”
Following the trial, Paltrow released a statement thanking the judge and jury for their handling of the case, and emphasizing that settling a claim she believed to be false would’ve compromised her values.
Later that year, she told The New York Times that the whole experience felt surreal. “It was like something I just had to get through,” she said, admitting that she hadn’t fully processed it even months later.
One thing’s clear: Gwyneth may have moved on from the trial, but she’s not likely to forget how bizarre—and revealing—the whole ordeal was.