Martha Stewart questions Meghan Markle’s lifestyle brand's authenticity

Stewart comments on Meghan Markle’s venture, highlighting concerns about authenticity and product quality in As Ever.

Martha Stewart has voiced skepticism about Meghan Markle’s new lifestyle brand, As Ever, questioning the Duchess of Sussex’s expertise in the space. In a recent interview with Yahoo Lifestyle, the 83-year-old media mogul and domestic icon commented on Markle’s entry into the wellness industry, saying, “Meghan I don’t really know very well, and I hope she knows what she’s talking about.”

Stewart emphasized the importance of authenticity in the lifestyle business, stating, “Authenticity, to me, is everything, and to be authentic and knowledgeable about your subject matter is extremely important.”

While Stewart’s remarks about Markle were restrained, she expressed strong admiration for another actress-turned-entrepreneur, Gwyneth Paltrow. Speaking about Paltrow’s Goop brand, Stewart said, “Gwyneth has been very successful; she created quite an interesting body of businesses,” and added that the Oscar winner is “pretty powerful” and “admired.”

Stewart noted she doesn’t mind having successors in the lifestyle industry and wished them “good luck,” though her comments hinted at a higher standard for credibility and expertise.

Markle, who transitioned from acting to royalty and later entrepreneurship after stepping back from royal duties in 2020 with husband Prince Harry, launched As Ever earlier this year. The brand sells products such as rosé, teas, honey, cookie and crêpe mixes, and fruit spreads. She also stars in the Netflix series With Love, Meghan, which has been renewed for a second season despite mixed reviews.

Markle’s apricot fruit spread has drawn criticism from industry professionals, including Donna Collins of Jelly Queens. “It’s a real disappointment,” Collins said, arguing that a spread “is what you make when your jam fails.” She added that the product’s quality suggests “whoever is making [Markle’s] spread doesn’t know what they are doing.”