Critics have sharply criticized Meghan Markle's transition from political ambitions to the act of gifting jars of jam to her friends.
Recently, Markle launched her new lifestyle brand, American Riviera Orchard, offering a sneak peek into its forthcoming products. As a promotional gesture, she sent 50 influencers a jar of strawberry jam last week. Among the recipients were Megan's former "Suits" co-star Abigail Spencer, designer Tracer Robbins, and socialite Kris Jenner.
Lee Cohen, a US-based political commentator speaking to GB News, expressed disdain for Markle's gesture, labeling it as frivolous. He particularly emphasized the irony of her actions given her previous aspirations in the political arena. Cohen remarked, "The tone-deafness is deafening, especially from someone who once aimed to be an influential world leader, now reduced to sending jam to pals for social media snaps."
Markle's distribution of strawberry jam, accompanied by a basket of lemons, faced some logistical issues among the recipients. At least two of the 50 recipients had their labels fall off, preventing them from posting on social media. Additionally, one recipient returned the gift as they were unwilling to post about it and felt pressured to do so. The lack of response from Markle's team regarding the return shipment led to the package sitting unattended for several days at the agent's office.
Criticism mounted further when Markle sent a gift basket to Kris Jenner, which included American Riviera Orchard jam, lemons, plants, and a handwritten letter. Some fans perceived this as an attempt to ingratiate herself with the Kardashians to enhance her celebrity status. One commenter likened Markle's efforts to a middle schooler seeking popularity, while another questioned the authenticity of the gesture, noting the absence of ingredients listed on the jam.
The marketing campaign surrounding Markle's jam distribution has drawn parallels to trolling. Critics pointed out the irony of the recipients seemingly mocking Markle by mimicking Kim Kardashian or Ray J in photos of them enjoying the jam. Others found humor in the presentation, particularly the inclusion of lemons and the handwritten note with a junior high aesthetic.
Amidst the criticism, questions arose about the manufacturer of Markle's jam and the quality assurance of the product. Some expressed reluctance to try the jam, highlighting the importance of transparency regarding its production.
