Meghan Markle Allegedly 'Left In Tears' Over 'Unfair Criticism' Of Her ARO Brand

Meghan Markle announced her new lifestyle brand early this year and has already released a limited collection of jams. However, according to a report, the negative reception of the jams and lifestyle brand has left the Duchess of Sussex "in tears."

Meghan will reportedly go on a "Summer of Love" PR blitz in the US and UK to improve her public image and reception of the brand when it goes live. This comes amid claims that she and her husband, Prince Harry, are negotiating their contract with Netflix, which ends next year.

Royal expert and author Tom Quinn revealed new information about Meghan and her ARO brand to The Mirror. He claimed that the former actress was devastated by American Riviera Orchard's reception. Quinn emphasized that it would have hit Meghan hard, especially with the criticism on the line of jams she had just released.

Quinn said, "The one fly in the ointment is Meghan's new internet brand, America Riviera Orchard. Meghan was in tears when the brand launched, and her new jam was widely mocked for being expensive and nothing special. She has reached the point now where she thinks that anything and everything she does will be unfairly criticized."

He added that, like Prince Harry, Meghan's husband, the duchess "feels that people are unfairly picking on her." He explained that she's not prepared at all for any clapback that might come once American Riviera Orchard goes live sometime this year.

Quinn added, "She is especially sensitive about any criticism of her luxurious lifestyle in the US – from her point of view, this is something to be admired, not criticized."

In March this year, Meghan announced the new luxury business venture, American Riviera Orchard. In the cryptic announcement video, which was shot at her Montecito mansion, Meghan was featured cooking and walking around the grounds of her beautiful family home.

Details of the Duchess of Sussex's plans for the lifestyle brand soon became public. Meghan plans to launch her own line of nut butter, oils, jams, home fragrances, and preserves. She'll also be selling items like kitchen utensils and homeware.

There was a lot of hype about the lifestyle brand at the time of the announcement, but Meghan has withheld information about it and when it would finally go live.

This has led to interest in the brand dying down, which has allegedly caused the duchess emotional stress and forced her to work on her public image.

With the negative reception and criticism of her brand and everything she does, Meghan is working to improve her image in the US and UK.

The former "Suits" actress is reportedly planning a "Summer of Love" PR blitz to win over thousands of new fans for the brand before it goes live, which will drive online sales.

Meghan's plan for the blitz is to make multiple appearances on popular chat shows and podcasts and connect with her audience on a deeper and more personal scale.

The duchess will also grant interviews with journalists who have been "specially selected."

Meghan and Harry are reportedly negotiating the renewal of their contract with Netflix, which ends next year. The duchess is currently working on her own cookery show, which will feature recipe books, kitchenware, and exotic foods that are available on her website.

However, a source told The Express that Harry and Meghan are "extremely unlikely" to get the same deal with Netflix. In 2020, the streaming giant signed a $100 million five-year contract with the Sussexes shortly after they arrived in America from London, which has come under heavy scrutiny.

The source claimed, "Executives at Netflix are very interested in the notion of creating a new revenue stream for the company by linking Meghan's show to commercial sales via American Riviera Orchard."

"They're intrigued by the possibility of some kind of partnership agreement that could potentially earn a lot of money for both parties. But, whatever deal is eventually concluded, it likely won't come anywhere close to their original deal - at least, not to start with," the source added.

According to a recent poll by Ranker, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex took the top spot on the most disliked celebrities of 2024 list, with Meghan named in first place while Harry came in second. It's not the first time they'll be on such a list, as they previously topped the list of the most annoying celebrities in 2022.

However, a PR expert, Lynn Carratt from Press Box PR, has claimed she won't be bothered by it, adding that Meghan would rather seek to grow her popularity in the US, her own country.

"In the latest YouGov survey released at the beginning of May, Meghan received a very low score. It should be noted that 65% of respondents disliked her, and 45% had very negative views of her," Carratt told The Mirror.

"Only 4% of Brits expressed very positive feelings toward her while her overall net approval rating dropped to minus 43 to minus 38 at the beginning of April," she continued.

The PR expert noted, "I believe Meghan will take the survey data with a pinch of salt. I'm not sure how interested she is anymore in getting the British public back on her side."

"She is American and that is where her family life is now, so she will be more concerned in raising her popularity in her own country and focusing on building her brand American Rivera Orchard, and making it a huge success," Carratt added.