‘Meghan Markle’s just been handed another public slap – and we’re all exhausted’
Meghan Markle faces another wave of public criticism as her latest projects come under scrutiny. From disappointing headlines to viral controversies, the pressure surrounding the Duchess of Sussex shows no sign of slowing down.
Meghan Markle’s Just Been Handed Another Public Slap — And We’re All Exhausted
Meghan Markle has once again found herself at the centre of a fierce public debate, with the latest criticism arriving at a particularly difficult moment for the Duchess of Sussex. Recent attention has focused heavily on the commercial performance of Cookie Queens, the documentary backed by Meghan and Prince Harry through Archewell Productions. The film has reportedly struggled at the box office, with recent reports putting its domestic earnings at just over $500,000.
For critics, the disappointing figures have become another reason to question whether the Sussexes’ entertainment strategy is working as intended. Since stepping away from senior royal duties, Meghan and Harry have attempted to establish themselves as independent media personalities and producers, but their projects have often attracted intense scrutiny. The latest setback has therefore been interpreted by some commentators as another public blow rather than simply an ordinary commercial disappointment.
The reaction has been especially strong because Cookie Queens was not simply another project associated with Meghan. She and Harry served as executive producers, placing their names directly behind the documentary. The film itself follows Girl Scouts competing to become top cookie sellers and premiered at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year before receiving its theatrical release in August.
Adding to the pressure, commentator Kinsey Schofield has reportedly advised Harry and Meghan to step away from the public and professional spotlight temporarily. Her argument is that the couple may benefit from fewer announcements and a greater concentration on one strong project rather than continuing to launch multiple ventures. Such comments have inevitably fuelled the narrative that the Sussexes need a major rethink of their strategy.
But describing every recent development as a personal humiliation for Meghan would be too simplistic. A separate controversy involving music producer David Foster recently appeared to show him ignoring Meghan and Harry on a red carpet, leading to widespread speculation about an alleged snub. Foster later rejected that interpretation, explaining that he had already greeted the couple and that the viral footage created a misleading impression.
That episode is important because it demonstrates how quickly ordinary moments involving Meghan can become major online stories. A few seconds of video can generate claims about friendships, status and influence before the people involved have an opportunity to explain what actually happened. In Foster’s case, his clarification substantially changed the context surrounding what had initially been portrayed as another supposed public rejection.
Meghan has also continued to appear publicly despite the criticism. She and Prince Harry attended the David Foster Foundation’s 40th anniversary gala in Canada earlier this month, where they supported their longtime friend and the charity’s work. The event raised millions of dollars for families whose children require life-saving organ transplants, showing that their public activities are not limited to entertainment and commercial projects.
At the same time, the couple’s public image remains unusually polarising. Supporters argue that Meghan is being judged far more harshly than other celebrities and that individual projects should be evaluated on their own merits. Critics, meanwhile, believe the repeated cycle of announcements, controversy and disappointing commercial headlines has become exhausting and that the Sussexes now need to prove themselves through results rather than publicity.
There is also a wider question about what Meghan wants her public identity to become. She has moved between roles as actress, royal, producer and lifestyle entrepreneur, while continuing to build a separate identity in the United States. Her brand As Ever, media projects and charitable activities have all attracted attention, but maintaining a consistent long-term direction may prove more important than generating another burst of headlines.
Ultimately, the latest “public slap” may say as much about the relentless nature of celebrity coverage as it does about Meghan Markle herself. A disappointing box-office result is certainly a setback, and the criticism surrounding it is unlikely to disappear immediately. But it does not determine the future of Meghan or Harry’s work. If the couple can learn from the criticism, focus on fewer projects and deliver something audiences genuinely want, today’s uncomfortable headlines could eventually become just another chapter in a much longer story.