Donna Freydkin

USA TODAY

Gwyneth Paltrow does herself no favors.

In an interview with E! prior to announcing her split from husband Chris Martin, she lamented the difficulty of being an actress and a mom.

"It's much harder for me," she said. "I feel like I set it up in a way that makes it difficult because … for me, like if I miss a school run, they are like, 'Where were you?' I don't like to be the lead so I don't (have) to work every day, you know, I have little things that I like and obviously I want it to be good and challenging and interesting, and be with good people and that kind of thing."

Here's where things get good:

"I think it's different when you have an office job, because it's routine and, you know, you can do all the stuff in the morning and then you come home in the evening," said the polarizing Paltrow. "When you're shooting a movie, they're like, 'We need you to go to Wisconsin for two weeks,' and then you work 14 hours a day and that part of it is very difficult. I think to have a regular job and be a mom is not as, of course there are challenges, but it's not like being on set."

Never mind that Paltrow has likely never actually held down a 9-5 office job, and makes millions with endorsement deals for various brands and for her starring role in the Iron Man franchise.

Her comments were widely picked up and even elicited an open letter published in the New York Post. The author of the missive penned a follow-up on Friday, stating she has no ill will towards Paltrow. "I just wish Gwyneth weren't quite so tone-deaf. When you're fortunate — and I count myself in this, as someone who has a loving husband and family, good health, no debt, a job I love, and a supportive network of relatives and friends — you have an extra responsibility to be empathetic and grateful and, in general, not oblivious," wrote Mackenzie Dawson.

In other Paltrow news, she thanked her fans for their support in the wake of her big announcement. "CM and I are in deep gratitude for the support of so many," she wrote on Goop.com.