Martha Stewart Critiques Meghan Markle’s New Brand
The iconic lifestyle expert Martha Stewart is back in the spotlight, this time taking a subtle jab at Meghan Markle following the launch of her lifestyle brand, As Ever.
Stewart’s Thoughts on Markle
In a recent conversation with Yahoo Lifestyle, Stewart, 83, expressed her hope that the Duchess of Sussex is well-versed in her new role as a lifestyle guru. “Meghan, I don’t really know very well. I hope she knows what she’s talking about,” Stewart remarked.
Stewart emphasized the importance of authenticity in the lifestyle industry, stating, “Authenticity, to me, is everything, and to be authentic and knowledgeable about your subject matter is extremely important.”
Views on Fellow Lifestyle Guru Gwyneth Paltrow
While Stewart was cautious in her praise for Markle, she had nothing but positive comments about Gwyneth Paltrow. “Gwyneth has been very successful; she created quite an interesting body of businesses,” she shared, highlighting Paltrow’s accomplishments and her success as the founder of Goop.
Markle’s Journey into Lifestyle Branding
Markle, 43, debuted her lifestyle brand, As Ever, in March and has faced scrutiny from royal experts, with some labeling her rebranding efforts as “inauthentic.” This comes on the heels of her Netflix series, “With Love, Meghan,” which has drawn comparisons to lifestyles brands established by Stewart and Nigella Lawson, 65.
Viewership Struggles and Future Plans
Despite these comparisons, Markle’s new series has not performed well. According to official figures, it did not make it into Netflix’s top 300 most-watched titles from January to June. The eight-part series ranked 383rd with 5.3 million views since its debut on March 4—disappointing numbers for a Netflix original.
Critics have been less than kind, with the show receiving an average rating of 3.2 out of 10 on IMDB. Although Netflix plans to release a second season of the cooking show, it will be the final episode, given that Markle and Prince Harry’s $100 million deal with the streaming platform appears to be at a standstill.
What’s Next for Stewart?
When asked if she had watched Markle’s show, Stewart admitted she hadn’t yet gotten around to it. “Has it started?” she inquired during an April appearance promoting her own cooking competition show, “Yes, Chef.” She expressed interest in catching an episode to see how Markle fares, noting that she is curious about the new project.
