Battle for the Internet: Gwynnie against Trump! Twitter is having a big day as news of Donald Trump’s indictment and Gwyneth Paltrow’s victory in the ski accident trial lands just hours apart
Gwyneth Paltrow’s blockbuster court victory on Thursday was strikingly overshadowed by news of Donald Trump’s impeachment, sending social media into a frenzy as the momentous legal battles clashed.
The actress won her court case after being accused of meeting retired optometrist Terry Sanderson during a ski trip in 2016.
But within an hour, news broke that a New York grand jury had voted to indict the former president, prompting some to joke that he should bring in “Gwyneth Paltrow’s attorney” for his upcoming legal battle.
News of the charges against Donald Trump quickly overshadowed Gwyneth Paltrow’s victory in the skiing accident lawsuit on Thursday
Some of those who joked about the trial compared it to the infamous 1994 OJ Simpson murder trial
The surprisingly close announcements between the two lawsuits took center stage for many online as pop culture grappled with the day of Titanic News.
During the trial, everything from Paltrow’s fashion choices to her rival Terry Sanderson’s final testimony bore the brunt of jokes online, with some even linking the trial to other famous legal cases, including the infamous 1994 OJ Simpson murder trial.
The high-profile trial became an internet sensation in recent weeks after it went live over eight days with live-streamed testimonies, with one person branding it a “walking meme”.
“Winner of Sanderson v. Paltrow meets Trump in the next round,” joked another Twitter user amid news of the former president’s impeachment.
“I wonder if Trump is calling Gwyneth Paltrow for advice right now,” commented a third.
The surprisingly close announcements between the two lawsuits have been the focus of attention for many online
After news of Donald Trump’s indictment broke, Twitter had a big day comparing it to Paltrow’s impressive court win
The two high-profile legal challenges spurred numerous memes as the stories garnered attention in popular culture
The process spawned numerous pop culture memes from years past
Using a depiction of a roller coaster full of nightmarish skeletons whizzing past carriages of horrified revelers, one meme creator said the image shows an “indicted Donald Trump entering the courthouse while the innocent Gwyneth Paltrow walks out.”
After the actress’ triumph was quickly followed by news of Trump’s impending arrest, another quipped, “Donald Trump has a lot to face if he wants his trial to be as fun as Paltrow’s.”
“Gwyneth Paltrow is INNOCENT. Donald Trump GUILTY. This is the America we fought for!’ added another Twitter user.
After scores of Republicans jumped in to support the embattled former president, one Twitter user quipped, “I pretend every screeching Republican defense of Trump is actually about the Gwyneth Paltrow ski accident trial.”
Paltrow won her case after a jury found she was not responsible for a horror skiing accident that injured 76-year-old Terry Sanderson.
But the ruling didn’t stop others from making fun of her skiing skills, with one tweeting: “In lieu of jail time, motion to sentence Trump to afternoon skiing with Gwyneth Paltrow.”
The Goop founder has previously been the center of ridicule after making a string of hilarious, unrelated claims over the years, including admitting that she’d been “out of control” by “bread-eating” during the pandemic.
Her trial ended Thursday after it took the jury just two hours and 20 minutes to reach their verdict.
As she left, the actress leaned over Sanderson’s shoulder and whispered something in his ear.
Outside of court, Sanderson’s attorney Kristin Van Orman said she wasn’t impressed with Paltrow, adding, “I’ve been a lawyer for 30 years and juries never surprise me.”
Of Sanderson, she added, “He’s suffering, he’s a very nice man.”
Sanderson filed damages in January 2019 — initially $3.1 million. A judge reduced the amount to $300,000 in compensation for the injuries sustained.
But Paltrow then countered her fellow skier, requesting a token $1 and coverage of her legal costs.