Just hours after Meghan Markle released the trailer for her upcoming Netflix series With Love, Meghan, critics accused her of recipe poaching.
Some compared their ‘Caprese Bruschetta’ to similar recipes; others detected a resemblance to a YouTube cooking show hosted by the Marchioness of Bath; and his beekeeping on the California farm was noted as one of his sister-in-law Kate’s hobbies.
In the trailer, the Duchess hosted celebrity chefs and celebrity friends, including Mindy Kaling, as she prepared a variety of perfectly presented dishes for The Lovin’ Spoonful’s Do You Believe in Magic.
In a clip from the kitchen of the rented mansion in Montecito, Meghan, who told viewers she would share “some little tips and tricks,” prepared a “Ladybug”-themed appetizer.
However, angry viewers said that recipes for the dish have existed since 2015 on dozens of food blogs and Pinterest pages, the American lifestyle magazine First For Women in 2018, and the popular TikTok account Home Cooks World in 2023.
Other viewers compared scenes from the trailer to those from the YouTube cooking show ‘Emma’s Kitchen’, hosted by marchioness and chef Emma Weymouth.
Celebrity MasterChef contestant, formally Emma Thynn, Marchioness of Bath, shares videos of her creations after launching the brand in 2015, using original Longleat House kitchens as a backdrop.
But while viewers complain that the Duchess of Sussex’s culinary ideas are not entirely original, many famous chefs argue that it is difficult to find one that is.
The Duchess of Sussex’s Netflix trailer has faced backlash for “copycatting” ideas, but one celebrity chef claimed chefs steal recipes all the time.
Take, for example, food critic Jonathan Meades’ 2017 book, The Plagiarist in the Kitchen: A Lifetime’s Culinary Thefts, which shares 125 of his favorite recipes.
He does not claim to have developed the methods himself; instead, he adapted the recipes and made them his own, a practice he believes most, if not all, chefs do.
Meades said Vice: ‘There is nothing original in any dish. The pretensions of chefs and the cookbook industry seem somewhat grotesque to me. It’s not dangerous, no one gets hurt, but it’s ridiculous and fun. They have disputes about who invented a particular dish.
Tom Kerridge thinks similarly and is not highly regarded for his recipes, as the Michelin-starred chef previously confessed to having “stolen” his mother’s beef bolognese recipe, proving that even the best chefs borrow a one or two tricks.
He said: “I think it’s brilliant to see so many of us sharing the same kitchen quirks and mishaps, whether it’s dropping food on the floor or borrowing a family recipe.” Cooking should be fun and it’s those little imperfections that make it special.
Kerridge added: “I’ve definitely had my fair share of disasters, and yes, I’ve been known to take credit for my mother’s beef bolognese.”

Meghan with actress Mindy Kaling in the trailer for ‘With Love, Meghan’, which will be released on January 15

Some viewers have compared scenes from Meghan’s trailer to those from the YouTube cooking show ‘Emma’s Kitchen’ hosted by Emma Thynn, Marchioness of Bath (pictured).



Social media was awash with people claiming that Meghan was inspired by Emma Thynn.
“It’s about creating good food and memories with the people you love, no matter how you get there.”
Meanwhile, TV chef James Martin takes a similar approach when talking about his recipes and their origins.
talking Question time about white wineMartin told presenter Kate Thornton how he ‘stole’ a kimchi, shrimp and seaweed salad recipe from Michelin-starred chef Paul Ainsworth.
Discussing the dish and its ingredients, Thornton asked: ‘It sounds delicious; Where can I get it?
The chef and television presenter responded with a laugh: ‘In his restaurant, or in mine because I stole it.’
According to Martin, it’s nothing unusual, and he claimed that Ainsworth had accepted one of his recipes in exchange, saying: “He stole one of mine… it’s a chef thing.”
Ainsworth, chef patron of a Michelin-starred restaurant in Padstow, includes monkey bread on his menu, with a poem explaining how he developed it.
According to Martin, it’s “complete nonsense” because “he stole it from my house when I cooked it for him.”

Celebrity chef Tom Kerridge, 51, admitted stealing his mother’s beef bolognese recipe

Food critic Jonathan Meades (pictured) has the impression that “there is nothing original about any dish.”
And to the other chefs who say that the recipes come to them without outside help, James says: “What a load of shit, you saw them on the menu and you stole them from someone else… facts, you changed them.” slightly, ready’.
It is seen that creatives are inspired by many activities; For example, viewers on social media claim that Breaking Bad channels Shakespeare’s MacBeth, while others believe that the Harry Potter franchise wouldn’t be what it was without Star Wars.
But while people view the above similarities positively online, it’s often a different story when it comes to cooking.
For example, in 2020, Chrissy Teigen was forced to respond to a Twitter troll who accused her of plagiarizing a ‘Chef Mike’ recipe.
The Sports Illustrated Swimsuit alum, 39, responded by saying: ‘Please tell me who this Chef Mike is. So can I talk to him? “I have never stolen a recipe from anyone and I actively talk about the restaurants I love.”
She reflected on the absurdity of the accusation and wrote: ‘Imagine if the ego thinks that someone is copying you when it has never heard of you?’
Teigan has written several cookbooks, including 2018’s Cravings: Hungry for More: A Cookbook and Cravings: Recipes for All the Food You Want to Eat: A Cookbook.
Meghan Markle faces a similar storm, with online critics condemning her for unoriginal ideas.

Viewers have claimed that some of Meghan’s ideas are not original, such as the ‘Ladybug Caprese Bruschetta’ (pictured).

Dozens of food blogs have published the recipe, including Diario de una casa loca in 2016 (pictured).

TikTok and YouTube channel Home Cooks World posted a similar recipe video in 2023 (pictured)
However, if you think like James Martin, you are following a practice more common than ever in the industry.
Posting the trailer on her Instagram account, Meghan wrote: ‘So excited to share this with you! I hope you love the show as much as I loved making it.
‘I wish you all a fantastic new year! Thank you to our amazing team and team. More than grateful for the support…and the fun!’
She said goodbye: “As always, Meghan.”
Describing the series in an official synopsis, Netflix says: “In With Love, Meghan, we join Meghan in the kitchen, the garden (and even the beehive) as she prepares to host friends both old and new.
‘By sharing some of her favorite tips and tricks for cooking, gardening, crafting and more, Meghan reveals how even the smallest details can help add beauty to our lives and, most importantly, help bring people together.
“Whether it’s preparing take-home gifts for guests or adding a sprinkle of edible flowers to breakfast, it’s the thought that really counts.”
Speaking in the trailer, Meghan says: “I’ve always loved taking something quite ordinary and elevating it, surprising people with moments that let them know I was really thinking about them.”

Celebrity chef James Martin (pictured) candidly revealed that he has been inspired by other chefs and their recipes.

Martin claimed that Paul Ainsworth, chef patron of the Michelin-starred No. 6 restaurant in Padstow, had “stolen” one of his recipes earlier.
‘I’m going to share some little tips and tricks and how to incorporate these practices every day.
“It’s about connecting with friends… We’re not looking for perfection, but for joy.”
The Duchess is known to have many star-studded friends; one of whom is The Office writer Mindy Kaling.
In a clip from the trailer, Kaling, who is served a piece of Victoria sponge cake, says: ‘What! This is probably one of the most glamorous moments of my life.’
Elsewhere, Meghan talks about “making new friends” and learning new skills, such as beekeeping.
In each episode, Meghan invites friends new and old to roll up their sleeves and join her in the kitchen or garden, as they share candid conversations and top tips.
In addition to Mindy, who previously appeared on the Duchess’ Archetypes podcast, Prince Harry and chefs Roy Choi and Alice Waters also make appearances.
Meghan also welcomes some of her closest friends, from Suits co-star Abigail Spencer to her ‘sister’ and ‘polo partner’ Delfina Blaquier, wife of the Duke of Sussex’s friend Nacho Figueras.
Professional polo player Nacho was the first of the Figueras family to appear in a Sussex Netflix series, after starring in Netflix’s Harry & Meghan, as well as the show Duke’s Polo.
Meghan’s makeup artist Daniel Martin, often described as the mother-of-two’s best friend, also appeared in the trailer for the duchess’s new show.
Daniel is believed to have known Meghan for more than a decade, having met her while the former actress was working on Suits.
The couple then stayed in touch and while working on her old blog The Tig, Meghan asked Daniel to help her.
He has stayed in touch with the duchess throughout her life in the royal family and was by her side on her wedding day as she perfected her makeup.
The series also features celebrity literary agent Jennifer Rudolph Walsh and Harry and Meghan’s billionaire neighbor Vicky Tsai, who sold her beauty brand Tatcha to Unilever in 2019 for $500 million.
They are joined on the show by Tracy Robbins. Mrs Robbins and her husband, Paramount boss Brian Robbins, are friends of the Sussexes and invited them to the premiere of the Bob Marley film in Jamaica in January.
Meghan’s best friend Kelly McKee Zajfen, co-founder of the Alliance of Moms, is also included on the series’ guest list.