Meghan Markle’s reverse Midas touch has struck again, and this time, the unfortunate victim is none other than the prestigious French ceramics brand Astier de Villatte.
The company now finds itself in the awkward position of scrambling away from association with the Duchess of Sussex after she decided to showcase their $400 bowls, only for their sales to take a nosedive. Who could have predicted such a turn of events? It all began when Meghan, in yet another installment of her meticulously curated aesthetic, proudly displayed fruit in bowls that appeared to be suffering from an extreme case of smallpox. Because, of course, nothing says "relatable lifestyle" quite like flaunting overpriced, wart-covered tableware.
Spending nearly $600 on two glorified petri dishes certainly makes for a fascinating attempt at appearing down-to-earth. However, instead of receiving the refined admiration she might have expected, social media erupted in ridicule. Users questioned the bizarrely diseased appearance of the bowls while also highlighting the absurdity of their exorbitant price tags. After all, who in their right mind would willingly part with $42 for a single bowl unless they had no concept of taste, class, or financial responsibility?
As the backlash spread, much like the unfortunate texture of the bowls themselves, Astier de Villatte quickly realized they had a crisis on their hands. No luxury brand wants to be linked to a personality whose mere endorsement causes sales to plummet. In a clear act of self-preservation, the company began to subtly but decisively distance itself from Meghan and her relentless attempts at luxury lifestyle branding.
One might wonder whether Meghan had hoped to appeal to the Goop demographic—those willing to spend absurd amounts on anything labeled "artisan" or "Parisian." If so, the plan backfired spectacularly. Instead of being celebrated as a tastemaker, she was ruthlessly mocked for her try-hard aesthetic and apparent inability to distinguish between true elegance and overpriced nonsense. The internet, as expected, had a field day. "Do they break when you throw them?" one commenter asked. "No, they pop and cover you in honey and edible flowers," another joked, perfectly capturing the ridiculousness of the situation. Some speculated that the bowls, originally smooth, had developed their odd texture as a defense mechanism after witnessing Meghan’s rumored plate-throwing tendencies. Truly, the first-ever self-protecting ceramics.
This debacle also raises another question: does Meghan even own these bowls, or were they just another borrowed item returned after a quick rinse with dish soap? Given her track record of borrowing luxurious homes, cars, and even personas, it wouldn’t be surprising if these peculiar tableware pieces were just another temporary prop in her ongoing pursuit of relevance. Meanwhile, as Astier de Villatte scrambles to erase any association with Meghan’s unfortunate endorsement, one lesson stands clear—luxury branding thrives on exclusivity, and even the most expensive items can be devalued by the wrong association. Money may buy high-end bowls, but it certainly doesn’t buy taste, class, or self-awareness. As for Meghan’s aspirations of becoming a high-end lifestyle influencer, well, better luck next grift.
