Meghan Markle has once again found herself at the center of an awkward social entanglement.
This time, however, it's not a Hollywood cold shoulder, a Netflix misstep, or an icy royal glare. Instead, the latest drama involves Elina Blacker, the wife of Harry’s polo-playing friend, Nacho Figueras. With one subtle yet calculated move, Elina appears to have landed a perfectly aimed social media jab at Meghan. How? By committing the ultimate betrayal in the world of self-proclaimed lifestyle moguls—liking an Instagram post.
Fresh off the heels of her American Riviera Orchard brand’s unceremonious collapse, Meghan announced a rebrand—a new name, a new beginning, yet the same familiar problem of having no actual products available for purchase. The revamped brand, dubbed "American Riviera Orchard: As Ever," was meant to signal a fresh start. However, there was one glaring oversight: "As Ever" was already in existence. The name belonged to a legitimate business founded in 2015 by independent designer Mark Kazarian. Understandably, Kazarian was less than thrilled when Meghan, backed by a Netflix deal, seemingly claimed the name as if she had invented it.
Then came Elina Blacker’s innocuous yet devastatingly effective Instagram like. She casually engaged with a post from As Ever NYC, the original brand, and the internet erupted. Public outrage, legal threats, and a wave of social media speculation followed. Was her like a coincidence? A simple double-tap with no hidden meaning? Or was it a deliberate nod of appreciation for the original brand? Whatever her true intentions, the move was both understated and ruthless, instantly sparking debate. Was she subtly throwing shade at Meghan? Had she been waiting for the perfect moment to make her move?
This wasn’t the first time Elina had raised eyebrows with her apparent lack of enthusiasm for Meghan’s social circle. In the past, she referred to Meghan as “P.W.”—short for "polo wife"—in a way that felt less like an affectionate nickname and more like an attempt to distance herself from the duchess’s ever-expanding web of drama. Their interactions have often seemed drenched in the kind of forced politeness that only exists when one party is desperate for the association while the other is just tolerating it.
Naturally, the internet had a field day with theories. Had Elina always been quietly skeptical of Meghan? Had she spent years rolling her eyes at the duchess’s antics, biding her time for the perfect opportunity to make a statement? And, perhaps most intriguingly, was she aligning herself with Gwyneth Paltrow? The wellness mogul had already made her own passive-aggressive move by following As Ever NYC, leading some to speculate that she and Elina had formed an unspoken alliance. If true, it would signal a decisive verdict from Hollywood’s elite—Meghan Markle had officially been voted off the island.
So, what’s Meghan’s next move now that former allies seem to be siding with the opposition? She has a few well-worn strategies at her disposal. First, the classic damage control tactic: a vague Instagram post about women supporting women, which will inevitably be met with widespread mockery. Second, the “I’m above this” approach: an exclusive leak to People magazine about how she’s too focused on her work to care about petty drama. And then there’s the nuclear option: a high-profile Netflix documentary on friendship betrayals, featuring carefully curated footage of Elina looking disinterested at polo matches.
The irony is that an entire brand launch is now being overshadowed by something as trivial as an Instagram like. But let’s be honest—Meghan’s real concern isn’t the betrayal itself. The bigger issue is that As Ever NYC is now thriving, gaining followers by the second, while her own rebranded endeavor is already off to a scandal-ridden start. Meanwhile, Elina is likely somewhere, sipping a matcha latte, thoroughly amused by the chaos her seemingly harmless social media engagement has caused. Perhaps next time, Meghan will opt for a truly groundbreaking business strategy: originality.
