Meghan Markle reportedly cried after her new lifestyle brand, American Riviera Orchard, was met with harsh criticism from the public. The Duchess of Sussex had launched the brand in March with the release of a new jam, which she hoped would help boost her public image.
The 43-year-old duchess is said to be on a PR campaign to promote the brand, which will be the focus of her upcoming Netflix series. Earlier this year, Meghan hinted at the brand’s launch with a cryptic social media video showing her and Prince Harry walking around her Californian mansion.
As Meghan and Harry’s public reputation is currently low, she hoped to use the brand to boost her profile. However, the launch did not go as planned as the jam failed to impress consumers, leading to widespread ridicule.
Royal author Tom Quinn claims the backlash made Meghan cry. According to The Scottish Daily Express“The only downside is Meghan’s new internet brand, American Riviera Orchard. Meghan cried when the brand launched and her new jam was widely ridiculed for being expensive and unremarkable.
Quinn added: “She has reached a point where she feels that everything she does will be unfairly criticised. Like her husband, she feels that people pick on her unfairly; she can’t understand why people don’t admire her work.”
She also noted that Meghan is particularly sensitive to criticism of her lavish lifestyle in the United States. “From her perspective, this is something to be admired, not criticised,” Quinn said.
American Riviera Orchard is expected to premiere later this year, although a premiere date has not yet been announced for the Netflix series, which is said to “celebrate the joys of cooking, gardening, entertaining and friendship.” Meghan has reportedly finished filming and several big names from the culinary world will appear in the series.
Meghan and Harry are currently residing in the exclusive California community of Montecito with their children, Prince Archie, 5, and Princess Lilibet, 3, after stepping back from royal duties in 2020.