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Martha Stewart Casts Doubt on Meghan’s Lifestyle TV Pivot
Martha Stewart Shares Her Honest Thoughts on Meghan Markle’s Lifestyle Career
The Big News in Simple Terms
Imagine two famous ladies sitting at a dinner party in California. One is Martha Stewart — the queen of cooking, decorating, and making homes beautiful for decades. The other is Meghan Markle — who went from TV actress to princess, and now wants to be a lifestyle guru too.
Martha recently told People magazine what she really thinks about Meghan’s new career path. Spoiler alert: She has some doubts.
Who’s Who in This Story
| Person | What They’re Known For |
|---|---|
| Martha Stewart | Built a massive empire teaching people how to cook, garden, decorate, and entertain. She’s been doing this for over 40 years! |
| Meghan Markle | Actress on the show Suits → Married Prince Harry → Became Duchess of Sussex → Left royal life → Started a Netflix cooking show and lifestyle brand |
What Happened at the Dinner Party
Martha shared these details about their recent meeting:
- They met at a dinner party in California
- Meghan had just returned from a trip to the UK where she, Prince Harry, and their kids visited King Charles
- They only spoke briefly — Martha said she didn’t have a long conversation with Meghan
- Martha is the "last to arrive, first to leave" type at parties (her own words!)
Martha’s Honest Opinion — The "Harsh Reality"
"If you’re an actress, it’s hard to then transition to a princess and then from a princess into a homemaking guru on a television show. It doesn’t sort of follow."
What Martha Means (In Kid Language)
Think of it like this:
- Step 1: You pretend to be other people on TV (actress)
- Step 2: You marry a prince and become actual royalty (princess)
- Step 3: You try to teach people how to bake cakes and arrange flowers (lifestyle expert)
Martha is saying: "That’s a weird path! It doesn’t make natural sense."
She’s not being mean — she’s pointing out that credibility matters. Martha spent decades actually doing the work before she taught others.
Meghan’s Journey: A Quick Timeline
- 2011–2018 — Starred as Rachel Zane on Suits (legal drama on USA Network)
- May 2018 — Married Prince Harry → Became Duchess of Sussex
- January 2020 — Harry and Meghan stepped back as senior royals
- 2020 — Moved to California with their son Archie (daughter Lilibet born 2021)
- 2020 — Signed big deal with Netflix
- 2024 — Launched cooking show "With Love, Meghan" on Netflix
- 2024 — Got a Daytime Emmy nomination for the show!
- 2024 — Launched lifestyle brand "As Ever" with Netflix
- March 2025 — Big change: Netflix and Meghan announced they’re no longer working together. The brand will now operate independently.
Important Point: Martha Knows Her Stuff
Martha Stewart isn’t just giving an opinion — she built the playbook. Her company, Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, was once worth nearly $2 billion. She’s written 90+ books, hosted TV shows for decades, and literally defined the "lifestyle expert" category. When she says "it doesn’t follow," she’s speaking from 40+ years of experience.
Why This Matters
For Meghan:
- She’s trying to build trust as a lifestyle authority
- The Netflix split means she’s on her own with her brand "As Ever"
- An Emmy nomination helps, but critics are watching
For Us (The Audience):
- We get to see two different approaches to the same space
- Martha = Deep expertise, built slowly over decades
- Meghan = Fame-first, pivoting to expertise later
- Both can exist — but credibility takes time
Summary
- Martha Stewart and Meghan Markle met at a California dinner party
- Martha told People magazine she thinks Meghan’s path (actress → princess → lifestyle guru) "doesn’t sort of follow"
- Martha isn’t hating — she’s pointing out that lifestyle authority usually comes from years of hands-on work
- Meghan has had success (Emmy nomination!) but now operates independently after splitting with Netflix
- Time will tell if Meghan’s brand "As Ever" becomes a lasting empire like Martha’s
FAQ: Your Questions Answered
Is Martha Stewart being mean to Meghan Markle?
Not really. She’s giving her professional opinion based on 40+ years in the industry. Think of it like a master chef commenting on a new restaurant — it’s critique, not cruelty.
What is "As Ever"?
It’s Meghan’s lifestyle brand — think jams, home goods, and lifestyle products. Originally launched with Netflix, but now operating independently as of March 2025.
Did Meghan’s show "With Love, Meghan" do well?
It got a Daytime Emmy nomination, which is a big deal! But critical reviews were mixed, and viewership numbers haven’t been publicly shared by Netflix.
Why did Meghan and Netflix stop working together?
The official announcement said they’re moving in different directions creatively. Both sides described it positively — no drama reported.
Can someone become a lifestyle expert without decades of experience?
Yes! But Martha’s point is: it’s harder. People trust experts who’ve "done the work." Meghan has fame and a platform — now she needs to prove the expertise.
Want to stay updated on lifestyle media and celebrity business moves? Keep reading — this space changes fast!
