Celebrity chef Martha Stewart has reportedly expressed her displeasure at being compared to Meghan Markle, finding the comparisons "irritating and insulting" as the Duchess of Sussex launches her new lifestyle brand, American Riviera Orchard. The brand, set to coincide with Meghan's upcoming Netflix cookery show, is expected to offer a range of products, including jams, tableware, cutlery, and other lifestyle items.
According to sources who spoke to In Touch, Stewart, 82, has seen "hundreds of Meghan types come and go" and believes they all enter the industry with "the same self-inflated hype, only to find out it's a whole new ball game when it comes down to brass tacks."
The insider added, "She's tired of being quizzed by people over how she feels about Meghan's venture because, honestly, it's irritating and insulting to her that she's being compared to a rookie!"
The comparisons between Meghan and Stewart have left the Duchess of Sussex red-faced, as she faces criticism from the seasoned lifestyle guru. Stewart, who has spent decades building her brand from the ground up, is skeptical of Meghan's ability to replicate her success with limited experience, despite being married to Prince Harry.
An inside source explained, "Martha spent decades building her brand from a foundation of raw talent, hands-on hard work and an original vision. If Meghan thinks she can come along and replicate that with barely any experience simply because she's married to a prince, she better think again. Martha doesn't put a whole lot of faith in her succeeding, but if she does prove to be any competition, Martha won't hold back in trying to take her down."
This is not the first time Stewart has taken aim at a celebrity venturing into the lifestyle industry. In 2014, she criticized Gwyneth Paltrow, another figure to whom Meghan has been compared, stating, "She just needs to be quiet. She's a movie star. If she were confident in her acting, she wouldn't be trying to be Martha Stewart!"
Meghan's American Riviera Orchard brand is set to launch later this year, and while it has been suggested that the Duchess could rake in more than six figures in sales within the first weeks, she is already facing competition from an unlikely source - her father-in-law, King Charles. The monarch sells homemade and organic products, including jams, from his Highgrove estate under the Highgrove brand (formerly known as Duchy Originals), which he established in 1990 to promote organic farming and support sustainable agricultural practices.
As Meghan prepares to enter the competitive world of lifestyle brands, she will need to navigate the challenges posed by established figures like Martha Stewart and the potential rivalry with her own family members. The success of American Riviera Orchard will depend on Meghan's ability to differentiate her products and brand from the competition and prove her worth in an industry where experience and hard work are highly valued.
Despite the criticism and doubts surrounding her venture, Meghan remains committed to launching her lifestyle brand and sharing her passion for cooking, gardening, entertaining, and friendship through her upcoming Netflix series.
