Meghan Markle seems to be making headlines for all the wrong reasons once again. While she and Prince Harry continue to navigate life outside the royal family, their public image is facing another significant blow. Meghan, especially, has been at the center of controversy, and unfortunately, her recent attempts at reinvention haven’t been as successful as she might have hoped.
Let’s talk about what happened recently. Meghan launched a lifestyle brand called American Riviera Orchard, which aims to offer luxury jams and homeware. Now, luxury jams might sound a bit odd to some, but Meghan, it seems, is trying to tap into a niche market with products that carry a sense of exclusivity. The catch? These jams are reportedly priced at over $200 a jar. Yes, you read that correctly—$200!
To promote this new venture, Meghan and her team sent out limited batches of the jams to her celebrity friends, hoping to generate buzz. But what followed was predictable. The backlash was swift and harsh. In a world where so many are struggling with the aftermath of COVID-19 and economic hardship, no one is particularly interested in seeing influencers like Chrissy Teigen showcasing a “royally inspired” luxury jam on social media. And, let’s be honest—who could blame the public for rolling their eyes?
To make matters worse, this move feels almost contradictory to Meghan’s past claims. On one hand, she and Harry have repeatedly emphasized their desire to distance themselves from the royal family, claiming the monarchy is full of racism and antiquated ideals. But on the other hand, Meghan is promoting products that seem to embrace those very royal ties. It’s a confusing mixed message. People are understandably asking: Does Meghan want to distance herself from the royal family, or does she want to capitalize on that legacy?
The response to her luxury jam was swift and unforgiving. One commenter pointed out that Meghan and Chrissy Teigen—both famous for their privileged lifestyles—seem completely out of touch with the struggles everyday Americans are facing. And to be fair, many online agreed, criticizing the tone-deaf nature of the campaign.
This misstep comes after the failure of Meghan’s podcast on Spotify, which, according to reports, didn’t even get off the ground properly. Meghan and Harry’s production company, Archewell Productions, has struggled to make a significant impact in the entertainment industry. While Netflix reportedly invested millions into their production deals, the projects have largely been underwhelming, which doesn’t help their already fragile public image.
Adding to this, Meghan has recently been called “unbearable” by former employees at her company, American Riviera Orchard. Apparently, nearly 20 staff members quit over the summer, and no one was willing to take on the role of CEO. As the stories came out, sources described Meghan as difficult to work with, claiming that she is demanding and talks down to people. And while anonymous sources should always be taken with caution, these stories are becoming increasingly hard to ignore.
Perhaps feeling the pressure, Meghan recently took the bold step of appointing herself as the CEO of her luxury brand, which has raised eyebrows. If nobody else is willing to step up, why not Meghan herself? But this move has been criticized too, with some questioning her qualifications and capability to manage such a venture.
Meanwhile, Harry has been trying to stay out of the drama by focusing on charity work, but the couple’s professional separation has caused its own set of problems. It seems that Harry is trying to keep his public image separate from Meghan’s more controversial ventures, yet no matter how hard they try, they can’t seem to escape the speculation and negative press.
Despite all this, it seems that Meghan is intent on forging ahead with her brand and image. She might be hoping that, like her past controversies, this too will blow over. However, it’s becoming increasingly clear that the public is growing weary of her and Harry’s antics. From accusations of being out of touch with reality to their business failures, it’s hard to see how Meghan can recover her once-promising image.
So, what can we learn from this? In a world where social media and public opinion can make or break a person’s career, it’s essential to stay grounded and remain authentic. Meghan’s constant pursuit of luxury and fame has been met with skepticism, especially when it feels like she’s prioritizing money over the genuine issues she once claimed to care about. The latest news doesn’t bode well for her public image, and unless something drastic changes, it looks like Meghan Markle’s image will continue to take hits in the public eye.
Whether Meghan and Harry’s separation is temporary or long-term, it’s clear that their attempts to reinvent themselves continue to fall short of the mark. For now, it seems they’ll have to weather the storm and hope that their next move resonates more positively with the public.
