Meghan Markle Savaged by Critics Over ‘Self-Absorbed’ Holiday Video Promoting Lifestyle Brand As Ever

The Duchess of Sussex has faced sharp social media mockery and public backlash following her latest promotional campaign for lifestyle enterprise As Ever, with critics accusing her of extreme vanity and using the brand’s milestone to stage an overt showcase of self-praise. Released to mark the launch of the brand’s Holiday Collection, the promotional montage drew immediate fire across digital platforms for its celebratory focus on Meghan herself.
Writing to her followers, the 45-year-old duchess declared herself “very proud,” writing: “I pinch myself looking at how this brand has grown.” The accompanying social video—set to the uplifting soundtrack of The Cranberries’ classic “Dreams”—wove together family moments, manufacturing scenes, and personal archival footage:
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Montage Highlights and Family Cameos: The clip featured throwback moments including Princess Lilibet assisting with jam-making and speaking in an American accent (“I think it’s beautiful”), Prince Harry casually posed in shorts and a T-shirt smiling by a luxury gift hamper, and Meghan racing to eat fresh raspberries off her fingers—an outtake previously posted in 2018 by makeup artist Daniel Martin—alongside childhood portraits and factory assembly lines.

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Highlighting Early ‘Entrepreneurial Spirit’: Reflecting on her business acumen, the Duchess traced her hustle back to early childhood ventures—sewing scrunchies for a dollar, peddling Girl Scout cookies, and operating neighborhood lemonade stands—stating: “My entrepreneurial spirit was always there.”
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Revisiting Old Mantras: Meghan referenced her former lifestyle blog The Tig and supporter accounts, reiterating the quote: “Behind every successful woman is herself,” before crediting her executive staff and corporate collaborators for bringing the commercial concept to fruition.

The presentation triggered a wave of harsh commentary across social media:
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Accusations of Egocentrism: Users on X labeled the promotional video a “self-congratulatory tribute,” with commentators calling the aesthetic deeply vainglorious and claiming the post reflected an individual “worshipping herself rather than celebrating an enterprise.”
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Public Weariness of Curated Image: Many observers criticized the tone as uncomfortably self-absorbed, arguing that the heavy focus on her personal journey eclipsed the luxury products being sold and underscored an enduring disconnect with broader public sensibilities.
