Kimmel got Gwyneth Paltrow to read that line by making it part of the Mean Tweets segment on Jimmy Kimmel Live! , where celebrities are invited to read real, nasty tweets about themselves on camera for a comedy bit.

How it worked

  • The show picked an actual tweet aimed at Gwyneth Paltrow.
  • They brought her onto the segment and had her read it out loud.
  • Her line was the insult “ugly ass big bird looking bitch,” which became one of the most remembered moments from that edition.
  • The joke is the contrast: a polished celebrity calmly reading something ridiculously rude.

Why it worked

  • The segment depends on surprise and deadpan delivery.
  • Celebrities usually agree because the bit is built as self-parody, not a serious interview.
  • The uglier the tweet, the funnier the reaction tends to be, especially when the person stays composed.

What people remembered

  • Gwyneth’s reading stood out because the insult was so specific and absurd.
  • That episode also included other stars like Britney Spears and Lisa Kudrow, which helped make it feel like a bigger pop-culture moment.
  • The clip circulated widely because it was both mean and funny in that awkward Jimmy Kimmel way.

TL;DR

He didn’t trick her into saying it; he used the show’s recurring “Mean Tweets” format, where celebrities volunteer to read real insulting tweets for comedy.