Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, is back in the spotlight, but not for royal duties. Her lifestyle brand ‘As Ever’ has come under fire from the public. It all started when Meghan posted a video on Instagram showing her cheerfully arranging a charcuterie board featuring her product – a raspberry spread that sold out in record time but received disastrous reviews. People on Reddit and other social media slammed the video, calling it boring and inauthentic, like something pulled straight from Pinterest. Criticism focused on the forced aesthetics, calligraphy, and even the display of jewelry, which many saw as an attempt to create a fake lifestyle image.
But wait, there’s more! The spread was rated just two stars out of five because it was too runny, overly sweet, and had a sharp lemony tang, disappointing customers who expected something else. Although Meghan insists her product isn’t jam because it doesn’t have equal parts fruit and sugar, many were unhappy with the excess sugar. Another blow to the brand’s image is that the spread isn’t made in California as one might expect, but in a factory in Illinois.
In the podcast ‘Confessions of a Female Founder,’ Meghan admitted that launching the product in limited quantities was a deliberate marketing tactic to create scarcity, similar to popular sneaker drops. Still, she emphasized that she wants her products to be part of people’s everyday lives, not a luxury for occasional use.
If Meghan wants to build credibility in the lifestyle product world, she’ll need a more stable production chain and a more authentic message. Because even the most beautifully arranged charcuterie board won’t convince people to buy again if the product doesn’t meet expectations. So, what do you think – just another celebrity trying to sell a fairy tale, or can Meghan really change the game? Drop your thoughts, maybe together we’ll uncover the real story behind the ‘As Ever’ brand!
