In a surprising turn of events, Bobby Brown and Meghan Markle have experienced a dramatic falling out following a heated confrontation over the recent drop in sales of Brown's cosmetics line.
Renowned makeup artist and entrepreneur Bobby Brown has recently distanced herself from Meghan Markle in response to significant public backlash. The controversy began when a photo of Brown and Markle together at the G9 Venture Summer Summit circulated online, leading to a wave of boycotts against Brown's brand.
Meghan Markle attended the business summit in the Hamptons, reportedly seeking advice for her new lifestyle brand, American Riviera Orchard. The summit, hosted by power broker Amy Griffin, saw Meghan photographed with longtime friends, including makeup artist Bobby Brown and designer Misha Nonoo. An image shared from the high-powered summit showed Meghan smiling as she posed with Brown and Nonoo. However, the photo's circulation prompted a torrent of negative reactions, forcing Brown to limit comments on her social media posts within 24 hours. This backlash highlights Meghan's polarizing presence, with royal fans calling for a boycott of Brown's brand due to her association with Meghan.
One royal fan commented, "I wonder if Bobby Brown knew the extent of Meghan Markle's polarization before she posted. PR companies surely have to be aware of this effect by now and are advising their clients to refrain from posting Meghan Markle content. Before this post, I followed Bobby Brown for years and purchased the products. After this post, I unfollowed and will not support Estee Lauder's Bobby Brown Line anymore. There's no room for hate in my wallet, and Meghan Markle's brand is one that pushes values that do not align with my own: polarization, faux charity, lack of humility, and the trading and betrayal of family and friends for money and influence."
Another added, "I definitely thought less of Bobbi Brown for associating with Meghan Markle. It made me think Bobby's brand is on the decline, willing to risk associating their own brand with a well-known toxic brand by posing for photos. Appears desperate. Brands are all about appearances. Do I want Bobby Brown cosmetics with a desperate side of Meghan Markle influence? No."
Bobby Brown, who founded her eponymous cosmetics brand in 1991 and sold it to Estee Lauder in 1995, worked for the line until 2016 before leaving to establish Jones Road in 2020. Known for bridging the gap between makeup and skincare, Jones Road has faced challenges amid the recent controversy. Brown and Markle's professional relationship dates back to 2016 when they collaborated on a photo shoot for the cover of a magazine. They created a video in which Brown showed Markle how to apply makeup in a moving Uber. In 2018, Brown shared a post on Instagram in honor of Meghan's 39th birthday, recounting an anecdote about the first time Meghan mentioned Prince Harry, referring to him as a "fellow she was dating from the UK." During the early days of her relationship with Harry, Meghan also partnered with Brown for the Bobby Brown Retouch campaign. Despite their past collaborations, the recent fallout has left a significant mark on their relationship and the beauty industry as a whole.
This situation underscores the delicate balance brands must maintain in the age of social media and the heightened sensitivity to public opinion. For Bobby Brown, the decision to distance herself from Meghan Markle was likely a strategic move to protect her brand amidst growing consumer discontent. As for Meghan Markle, this incident adds to the list of controversies that have surrounded her since her departure from royal duties, further complicating her public image and future endeavors.
