Pop Apologists, Ep. 299: J Lo’s Ex Loses It on IG, Gwyneth Fires Back at “Hack” Amy Odell + Prince Andrew’s Complete Downfall

Release Date: October 22, 2025
Hosted by Lauren & Chandler

Overview

In this episode, sisters Lauren and Chandler dive into the week’s juiciest celebrity happenings, tackling everything from explosive ex responses (J Lo’s first husband’s IG tirade), celebrity PR missteps (Gwyneth Paltrow slams her biographer, Amy Odell), wild brand stunts (Skims’ faux-pubic-hair thong), monumental art heists, and a possible murder among the Spanish fashion elite. They also reflect on personal mishaps and the power of “letting money flow,” all while maintaining their signature blend of dry wit, earnest pop culture obsession, and good sisterly banter.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Catching Up: Brand Trips vs. Real-Life Crises (01:22–09:22)

• Chandler’s Glam Brand Trip: Chandler recounts her experience as a "staff plus-one" on Courtney's influencer trip, joking about being treated as staff only by Courtney, but otherwise enjoying all the luxuries:

  “In Courtney's eyes, I was treated as...one of everybody else, and I got, like, all the stuff, all the perks, and I was absolutely, utterly spoiled.” – Chandler, [02:41]

• Lauren’s Puerto Rico Water Woes: Lauren describes a local water outage disaster, leading to desperate bathroom gymnastics and reflections on her inability to survive a real crisis:

  “Life goes to hell in a handbasket quickly when you don’t have access to water.” – Lauren, [05:13]

  • Personal TMI about “letting it mellow” in the toilet and creative peeing solutions.
• Sisterly Differences: Friendly ribbing about lifestyles, empathy, and “holding space” for each other's struggles.

2. Money, Energy, and Toxic Savings (09:22–12:10)

• The ‘Money Pond’ Parable: Lauren shares a viral text reflecting on the dangers of hoarding money (“Money must flow. You have to trust that once you let money go, it comes back with friends.”), leading to both sisters humorously justifying recent shopping sprees:

  “If you do not spend [money], it’s like poison. Like, literally, the higher your savings, the more poisoned you are by your own greed.” – Chandler, [10:52]

• Embrace Abundance: Both joke about deploying this “abundance mentality” as rationale for retail therapy.

3. Celebrity News Hot Takes

a. Kristen Bell & Dax Shepard’s “Murder Joke” Backlash (12:11–19:15)

• Instagram Faux-Pas: Kristen posts about her anniversary, referencing Dax’s off-color humor about never killing her—during Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
  • Public outrage ensues; Lauren and Chandler respond with nuanced takes, noting the difficulty of tracking all "awareness months" and the couple’s typical dark humor.

  “Is it a little bit too intense? Sure. Do I actually think that this is like moving the needle in the wrong direction...No.” – Chandler, [14:23]

  • They question whether calendar timing or joke content is what actually warrants criticism.

b. Skims' "Merkin" Thong Publicity Stunt (21:23–24:21)

• Faux Pubic Hair Thong: The sisters mock Skims’ latest provocative product drop, recognizing the classic viral marketing tactic:

  “This is just the equivalent of Goop's ‘This candle smells like my vagina.’...Brands do this now—have a provocative product moment, get people talking, stay relevant.” – Chandler, [23:06]

  • Discussion of internet overreaction and the importance of lowering "inflammation" over trivial scandals.

c. Gwyneth Paltrow Slams Amy Odell’s Biography (24:21–29:35)

• The ‘Hack’ Author Comment: Gwyneth tells British Vogue she found Amy Odell’s unauthorized biography “badly written” and calls Odell a “hack,” contrasting this with the high-profile male biographers her male peers receive.

  “Why do the men get Walter Isaacson and I get this hack?” – Quoted by Lauren, [25:04]

  • The sisters critique Gwyneth’s directness, suggesting ignoring instead of battling back.

  “The best way to play it is to never discuss it and just act like you do not care. Just be completely above the fray.” – Lauren, [26:31]

  • They agree the book wasn’t outrageously negative but sympathize with Gwyneth’s frustration at being painted by someone without access.

d. J.Lo’s Ex Lashes Out on Instagram (32:04–40:16)

• J.Lo on Howard Stern: J.Lo laments “never being truly loved.” Her ex-husband, Ojani Noa, responds with a lengthy, mistake-laden, passionately accusatory Instagram statement, denying her claim and accusing her of infidelity.

  “Let me just say stop putting us down. Stop putting me down with your victim card. The problem is not us…The problem, it’s you.” – Ojani Noa (read by Chandler), [34:21]

  • Chandler and Lauren break down the drama, joke about the spectacle of “exes clapping back,” and debate if there should be an expiration date for public ex-lashings.

e. College Admissions Scandal Fallout: “Full House” Edition (40:21–46:03)

• Lori Loughlin’s Divorce and Scandal: John Stamos declares Mossimo Giannulli a “terrible narcissist” post-divorce and cheating rumors, and claims Mossimo masterminded the college admissions scam.
  • Discussion on how hard it is to believe Lori was entirely in the dark, and wry takes on prison as “a two-month digital detox.”

  “I was thinking though, two months is about the perfect amount of time to go to prison...You can get some real perspective.” – Lauren, [44:44]

f. Mango Founder’s Mysterious Death (48:47–51:42)

• Possible Patricide: The son of Mango’s founder is under investigation nearly a year after his father's fatal cliff fall in Spain, spurring succession drama comparisons and musings on billionaire family dynamics:

  “Does it make more sense that the heir would push the benefactor off the cliff if they had a bad relationship...or is it more likely he slipped and fell?” – Lauren, [51:33]

  • Chandler points out the corrupting influence of wealth.

g. Louvre Jewelry Heist (58:26–63:43)

• World-Class Art Robbery: A lightning-fast, 7-minute heist at the Louvre results in the theft of priceless jewels.
  • The sisters marvel at the professionalism (armored scooter getaway), speculate about pre-arranged billionaire collectors, lament France's poor museum security, and delight in the “old school” nature of the crime.

  “In a world of crypto scams, this is just so refreshing. This is just old school...just robbing a museum.” – Lauren, [63:43]

h. Prince Andrew’s Royal Demotion (63:58–67:36)

• Exile from Royal Life: Prince William plans to ban Prince Andrew from royal duties, with his duke title already revoked due to his Epstein ties and further public disgrace.
  • Both hosts see it as insufficient punishment:

  “To me, this kind of feels like a big, big W for Prince Andrew, because it’s all the benefits...and none of the duty.” – Lauren, [65:30]

  • They call for stronger consequences, i.e., actual eviction and withdrawal of financial support.

4. Bonus: Pop Culture Chit-Chat, TV & Books (52:51–57:47)

• Quick TV Review: Lauren panned Netflix’s “The Woman in Cabington” as convoluted and implausible, leading to a broader discussion on the sisters’ preference for realistic media and memoirs versus sensational thriller plots.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “If you do not spend [money], it’s like poison. Like...the higher your savings, the more poisoned you are by your own greed.” — Chandler, [10:52]
• “Every month is a month for something...I just feel like there’s no way Kristen Bell even is aware of what month Domestic Violence Awareness Month is.” — Lauren, [15:03]
• “Let me just say: stop putting us down. Stop putting me down with your victim card...The problem, it’s you.” — Ojani Noa (via Chandler), [34:21]
• “Can we get, like, unsmashable glass?” — Chandler, [63:13]
• “To me, this kind of feels like a big, big W for Prince Andrew, because it’s all the benefits...and none of the duty.” — Lauren, [65:30]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Welcome & Catch-up: [01:22–09:22]
• Money Flow Parable: [09:22–12:10]
• Kristen Bell/Dax Shepard Drama: [12:11–19:15]
• Skims “Merkin” Thong/Buzz Marketing: [21:23–24:21]
• Gwyneth Paltrow vs. Amy Odell: [24:21–29:35]
• J.Lo’s Ex Responds (Read Aloud): [33:48–38:36]
• Lori Loughlin/John Stamos/Mossimo Scandal: [40:21–46:03]
• Mango Founder’s Potential Murder: [48:47–51:42]
• Louvre Jewelry Heist: [58:26–63:43]
• Prince Andrew Royal Fallout: [63:58–67:36]

Conclusion

This episode is a buffet of pop culture chaos, with Lauren and Chandler bringing equal parts sharp insight and riotous comic relief as they pontificate on celebrity slip-ups, personal squabbles, and jaw-dropping news from the royal family to European fashion dynasties. If you like your gossip with a heaping side of sisterly snark and cultural critique, this is an episode to queue up.