Podcaster Demands Refund After Meghan Markle’s As Ever Product Made Him Sick

Meghan Markle’s new holiday collection for her lifestyle brand As Ever is off to a bumpy start after one popular podcaster’s viral review left fans howling and clutching their wallets. In a new episode of his show "Spot On," creator Link Lauren said he “risked it all” for his listeners by ordering a haul of Markle’s new products, including her orange marmalade, raspberry spread, strawberry spread, flower sprinkles, and a $64 scented candle. But according to Lauren, the experience was far from royal.

“The packaging was cheap,” he began in his review, explaining that the products arrived wrapped in “crinkly paper” instead of the luxury presentation he expected. “I thought when I got the holiday trio of spreads they were going to come in a nice little package; they were basically thrown in a box.”

When it came time to taste the orange marmalade, things took a dramatic turn. “It smells really bad. I feel like I’m on 'Fear Factor,'” he said, grimacing. “I literally feel my throat closing. Oh my God. Orange marmalade tastes like crap. I actually feel sick.”

Lauren compared the experience to “being forced to eat vegetables at Fat Camp,” telling viewers, “I actually feel sick. That’s really not good. That’s not good.”

Still, the podcaster wasn’t done. Next up was As Ever’s candle, labeled "No. 84: Water Lotus, Sandalwood, and California Poppy." According to Markle’s website, the candle is meant to capture the scent of her California home. But Lauren said what arrived in his mailbox was anything but comforting.

After unboxing the product on camera, he made a shocking discovery that the $64 candle had no wick. “You guys, there’s no wick!” he exclaimed. “This has to be a joke. I’m not even kidding, there’s literally nothing to light in here. This is like Meghan Markle’s career… failure to launch!”

He added, “I literally want a refund. Meghan Markle, send me a frickin’ refund. I paid $64 for a candle you can’t light.”

Lauren didn’t hold back, even comparing Markle’s candle line to Gwyneth Paltrow’s infamous Goop launch. “At least it’s not the Gwyneth Paltrow v-gina candle,” he quipped. “If Meghan Markle did a candle like that, it would probably wipe out an entire village. It’d be like a mustard gas bomb.”

The segment quickly went viral, with clips circulating on TikTok and X (formerly Twitter). Viewers couldn’t get enough of the chaotic taste test and candle fail, with several verified users chiming in.

Chelly Longoria wrote, “Nobody makes me laugh the way you do. OMGosh! Do more of this. I love the unboxing and first impressions. Hilarious!” Rachel McIntyre added, “Haters will say you’re being dramatic, but I 100% believe this is how bad it all is.” Meanwhile, Victoria Bestolarides said she “never laughed so hard,” adding, “My stomach hurts so bad, now! Uh uh, uh uh.”

One viewer even offered practical advice and a little concern. “Get a refund…and send the one that got you sick to the FDA to test,” wrote Nikki O., while Lori joked, “Doesn’t look good! Maybe it’s one you put on a ‘heating coaster,' no flame! No telling what you might have ingested in that marmalade!”

And Lisa summed up the chaos perfectly, writing, “The marmalade rejection incident had me howling.”

As the internet continues to roast her “As Ever” marmalade and candle line, Markle has stood firmly behind the heart and intention behind her lifestyle brand.

In a statement shared on her website, the Duchess explained that As Ever was born out of genuine love and years of personal tradition. “For years, I’ve been making jams, preserves, and fruit spreads for friends and family,” Markle said. “The feedback from my loved ones was always the same: ‘Starting my day with your jam makes me feel happy.’”

Those moments, she added, sparked the idea to take her homemade creations to a larger audience. “I asked myself, ‘What would it take to scale my fruit spreads into something I could share more broadly?’” she wrote. “Could I adapt my recipe into something that could bring more people that feeling of joy? And what else could I add to this collection to spark a smile, to make your day a bit easier, to elevate your everyday?”

Markle described As Ever as “an extension of how I love,” emphasizing that every detail, from the fruit spreads to the candles, was crafted with intention. “Through thoughtful gestures and small details,” she concluded, “I hope this collection brings you as much joy as it does for those I hold close.”

While her mission was to “elevate the everyday,” the mixed reactions online suggest that As Ever may still have some fine-tuning to do before winning over the public palate.