A video from the elite Le Bal des Débutantes in Paris went viral in late 2024, which sparked massive online hate toward Apple Martin, the 21-year-old daughter of Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin. For instance, critics branded her actions “mean girl” entitlement after footage captured her shifting positions in a photo lineup beside another debutante. Consequently, social media users fabricated claims that authorities expelled her from Vanderbilt University or her high school, Harvard-Westlake, due to bullying.
On February 16, 2026, Apple fired back at the rumors on her Instagram Stories by reposting a comment that debunked the narrative. In fact, she declared, “I have never been kicked out of school, and I have never bullied anyone. I get that some people don’t like me, and that’s fine! I’m just not that kind of person.” Moreover, close friends, including Aliénor Loppin de Montmort—the debutante featured in the clip—defend her fiercely, dubbing her “the nicest girl ever.”
Unverified social media threads and YouTube videos fueled the gossip, while peddling baseless “nepo-baby” stereotypes. Meanwhile, Apple, who attends Vanderbilt University, recently confided to Vogue that she ditched law school dreams to pursue acting, emulating her mother. Ultimately, her candid rebuttal underscores the relentless scrutiny celebrity offspring endure in today’s social media spotlight.
