Martha Stewart is reportedly not happy that people are comparing her to Meghan Markle after the Duchess of Sus𝓈ℯ𝓍 launched her lifestyle brand.
An insider shared that Stewart doesn’t like being “compared to a rookie” and has previously accused actress Gwyneth Paltrow of being a copycat with her Goop brand.
Martha Stewart Is Reportedly Not A Fan Of Meghan Markle’s New Business Venture
As Meghan Markle launched her new lifestyle brand, American Riviera Orchard, the Duchess of Sus𝓈ℯ𝓍 has seemingly ruffled the feathers of others in the industry.
A source revealed to the National Enquirer that lifestyle guru Martha Stewart is unhappy about Meghan’s new venture and is reportedly tired of being compared to the royal.
Meghan just unveiled the lifestyle brand and is preparing for its official launch. The company will offer jams, fruit butter, serving ware, table linens, and dog food. The new brand will also be paired with a cooking show on Netflix.
Regarding Stewart’s stance on Meghan’s new company, a source expressed her disapproval, saying: “Martha has seen hundreds of Meghan types come and go—and says they all come in with the same self-inflated hype, only to find out it’s a whole new ball game when it comes down to brass tacks.”
The insider explained that Stewart, who has built her reputation in the culinary and lifestyle world for decades, is tired of being compared to Meghan.
“She’s tired of being quizzed by people over how she feels about Meghan’s venture because, honestly, it’s irritating and insulting to her that she’s being compared to a rookie!” the source noted, per Radar Online.
Martha Stewart Once Accused Gwyneth Paltrow Of Being A Copycat
Meghan isn’t the only person who has seemingly ruffled Stewart’s feathers in the lifestyle world. In 2014, she reportedly opposed Gwyneth Paltrow, an actress turned lifestyle guru who runs the Goop brand. The 82-year-old accused Paltrow of trying to mimic her and her brand through Goop’s products and features.
Martha said at the time, “She just needs to be quiet. She’s a movie star. If she were confident in her acting, she wouldn’t be trying to be Martha Stewart!”
During an interview with The Independent, royal author Omid Scobie also compared Meghan’s American Riviera Orchard brand to Paltrow’s Goop.
However, he shared that the major difference between Meghan and Paltrow is that the duchess plans to focus more on food and drink and be more “accessible” to the public in terms of pricing.
Martha Stewart Is Competitive And ‘Vicious’ Behind The Scenes
The insider talked about how Meghan should prepare herself for the competition and backbiting now that she’s entered the lifestyle industry properly.
They said, “Martha spent decades building her brand from a foundation of raw talent, hands-on hard work and an original vision. If Meghan thinks she can come along and replicate that with barely any experience simply because she’s married to a prince, she better think again.”
The source further shared that Stewart doesn’t believe Meghan can do well in the industry. However, if the former “Suits” actress proves that she’s a worthy competitor, Stewart “won’t hold back in trying to take her down.”
They added, “She’s still just as competitive as she’s ever been! She plays nice for the cameras—but behind the scenes, she’s vicious.”
However, other insiders have emphasized that Stewart’s standing against Meghan isn’t enough to 𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁 her dreams for the lifestyle world. They shared that the duchess sees her latest venture as a final make-or-break opportunity to prove her worth in Hollywood and build something for herself and Prince Harry.
Meghan Markle Has Had Cooking Projects Before
An insider previously spoke to Page Six about how Meghan’s brand will challenge the industry. They said, “From what I understand, I think Meghan will take on Martha Stewart, Gwyneth Paltrow and Ina Garten and play them at their own game.”
Meghan is reportedly receiving advice from powerful people like former Givenchy designer Claire Waight Keller and Victoria Jackson, a QVC star and makeup entrepreneur.
The duchess has dabbled in the culinary world in the past, for example, when she briefly worked on the Southern California Welcome Project.
For the project, Meghan contributed by cooking traditional Afghan food for “an evening of cooking and storytelling.”
In 2018, while she was still a working senior royal, Meghan created and sold a cookbook to help gather funds for victims of the tragic Grenfell blaze in London.
Meghan Markle Gives Out Jars Of ARO Strawberry Jam To Her Friends
Meghan recently released the first product of her American Riviera Orchard lifestyle brand.
The duchess announced the launch of her lifestyle brand via a glitzy Instagram video last month. The video was said to feature “all the things that are close to her heart.”
Last Monday, Meghan’s friends and other influencers were gifted ARO-branded strawberry jam jars, which they showcased on social media.
Argentine model Delfina Blaquier, the wife of Prince Harry’s best friend and polo player Nacho Figueras, was among those who shared pictures of their tasty gift on Instagram.
“Strawberry jam makes me happy. And I love your jam, @AmericanRivieraOrchard,” Blaquier wrote alongside an image of the jam spread on a piece of toast.
Designer Tracy Robbins, wife of Paramount boss Brian Robbins, also gushed about her jam jar on her Instagram Story.
