Meghan Markle’s upcoming appearance on a cooking competition show has sparked significant backlash from viewers who object to her continued use of her royal title. The Duchess of Sussex, 44, will guest-judge an episode of the programme, airing on July 26 on Australia’s Channel 10, prompting threats of boycotts and criticism from fans of the series.Meghan filmed the episode in April during her tour of Australia. The channel posted a photograph of her on social media on Tuesday, July 14, where they shared the release date for the episode and described her appearance.
Channel’s announcement and public reaction
The promotional post included a caption describing Meghan’s involvement in the show. “The countdown is on! Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, joins the #MasterChefAU kitchen as a guest judge, bringing her love of food, entertaining and seasonal produce to one of the competition’s most memorable challenges,” the announcement read. The revelation of her appearance generated immediate criticism in the comments section. Multiple viewers expressed their intention to skip the episode. “Definitely won’t be watching,” one person wrote, while another stated: “I love watching Master Chef, but won’t be watching it with her.”
Meghan Markle’s guest appearance on MasterChef Australia has divided viewers ahead of the episode’s July 26 broadcast.Image credit (Instagram)
Controversy over Meghan Markle’s continued use of royal title
According to OK Magazine, a significant portion of the backlash centred on Meghan’s use of her royal designation in the network’s promotional materials. “She’s no longer the Duchess of Sussex. She relinquished the title,” one commenter claimed, despite the fact that Meghan and Prince Harry, 41, retained their titles following their departure from royal duties in January 2020.
Social media users shared mixed reactions after MasterChef Australia announced Meghan Markle would appear as a guest judge, with some criticising her continued use of the Duchess of Sussex title.Image credit (Instagram)
The couple, who moved to California six years prior, are legally permitted to continue using the titles they received upon their marriage in May 2018 by the late Queen Elizabeth. However, they ceased using the HRH designation after stepping back from senior royal responsibilities.Some viewers expressed relief that the programme would not air in certain regions. “Thanks for reminding me not to watch,” one user wrote, with another chiming in: “Thanks for the heads up and making it easier to avoid.”One commenter offered a more pointed critique of the duchess herself. Another user slammed the former actress as “so nauseating,” capturing the sentiment shared by many who voiced their disapproval of her involvement with the show.
Meghan will appear as a guest judge on the cooking competition’s July 26 episode, bringing her passion for food and entertaining to the challenge.Image credit (Instagram)
Meghan Markle’s previous television venture
The criticism comes following the cancellation of Meghan’s own cooking and lifestyle series after two seasons earlier this year. The programme, which aired on a streaming platform, was cancelled after her deal with the service concluded without renewal.An insider described the financial outcome of the arrangement to Page Six. “Netflix put millions behind this deal, and I don’t think they saw a return whatsoever. They just cut a loss,” the source stated. Staff members at the streaming platform reportedly had negative experiences working with Meghan on her show. “There are a lot of people who really did not enjoy working with Meghan on With Love, and there is no love lost between Meghan and the company,” one staff member claimed.Meghan and Harry signed a $100 million contract with the streaming platform in 2020 following their exit from the royal family, though the arrangement ultimately proved less commercially successful than anticipated. Despite limited viewership, her cooking and lifestyle series received recognition within the television industry, earning a Daytime Emmy nomination in the Outstanding Lifestyle Program category.
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