In what royal watchers are calling one of the most embarrassing setbacks of the year, Meghan Markle’s highly publicized lifestyle brand is facing a storm of criticism after customers claimed they found live bugs inside luxury cookie gift boxes. The controversy erupted just days after the Duchess of Sussex launched the exclusive range in California earlier this summer, with prices reportedly soaring well above similar gourmet treats. The scandal threatens to derail what was supposed to be her triumphant entry into the food and wellness market.
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Social media lit up on August 10, with furious buyers sharing videos and images they say prove the shocking discovery. One clip showed what appeared to be a tiny insect crawling on a half-eaten cookie, sending disgusted reactions flooding in. “This is supposed to be luxury?!” one outraged customer posted, tagging the brand repeatedly. Within hours, the story had gone viral, and Meghan’s team found themselves in full damage control mode.
Insiders say Meghan had been banking on the cookie line as the centerpiece of her “Americana-meets-royal” aesthetic — a curated lifestyle vision meant to cement her status as a trendsetter far beyond the royal stage. However, the bug claims have sparked serious questions about quality control, especially as the Duchess has been personally promoting the products in interviews and at private tastings in Montecito.
To make matters worse, reports suggest several high-profile influencer partners have quietly paused their promotional posts, with at least one refusing to accept further shipments until “the issue is addressed.” The silence from celebrity supporters who were initially gushing over the cookies has been deafening, adding fuel to the backlash.
A spokesperson for the brand issued a short statement late on August 12, saying they were “investigating the matter with urgency” and “deeply regretted any customer experience that did not meet our high standards.” However, the statement stopped short of acknowledging the alleged bug problem directly, prompting critics to accuse the Duchess of dodging accountability.
For Meghan, the timing couldn’t be worse. She had been riding a wave of attention following her recent high-profile appearances and was reportedly in talks for a new TV segment highlighting her brand’s artisanal products. Now, PR experts warn that the “bug in the box” scandal could overshadow months of careful image-building, leaving potential retail partners wary.
As one former royal aide put it with a smirk, “When you try to market perfection, the smallest flaw can destroy it — and in this case, the flaw has legs.” 🐜🔥 Whether this is a temporary stumble or the beginning of a bigger brand implosion remains to be seen, but the Duchess’s cookie empire is undeniably crumbling under the pressure.