Meghan Markle, the former actress turned royal turned entrepreneur, faced a challenging moment when her latest product launch took an unexpected turn.
The Duchess had high hopes for her new line of gourmet dog biscuits under the American Riviera Orchard Lifestyle brand, featuring her elegant cursive.
However, what was supposed to be a triumph quickly turned into a full-blown meltdown after the biscuits became the target of ridicule on the popular comedy show South Park.
The drama unfolded when Meghan’s close friend and collaborator, Nacho Figueras, shared a sneak peek of the Riviera Orchard dog treats on Instagram.
The photo showcased a glass jar filled with artisanal-looking dog biscuits adorned with Meghan’s handwriting.
The Duchess had pinned her hopes on this new product to revive interest in her lifestyle brand, which had been relatively quiet since its initial launch last year.
Unfortunately, the celebrations were short-lived as South Park aired an episode that mercilessly parodied Meghan and her husband, Prince Harry.
The satirical portrayal featured the couple as Mr. and Mrs. Turd embarking on a global tour to demand privacy while constantly seeking attention in the media.
The episode did not spare Meghan’s Riviera Orchard brand, poking fun at the dog biscuits designed to resemble lavender and lemon shortbread, a subtle jab at her penchant for luxury branding.
Sources close to Meghan revealed that she was outraged by the South Park episode, viewing it as a personal attack that jeopardized the success of her new dog biscuit line.
The Duchess felt that the show’s mockery undermined her efforts and left her feeling humiliated.
In response, Meghan sought ways to counter the negative impact of the parody and salvage the launch of her product.
Despite her initial impulse to give an explosive interview addressing the situation, Meghan’s PR team advised her to opt for a more measured approach.
She decided to embrace the “Duchess of Dog Biscuits” persona and enlisted the support of Andy Cohen to defend her on his late-night talk show.
However, Cohen’s defense inadvertently backfired, leading to further embarrassment for Meghan as the audience reacted with laughter.
The aftermath of the South Park episode and Cohen’s interview left Meghan feeling devastated and defeated.
Sales of the Riviera Orchard dog treats plummeted, turning what was meant to be a successful product launch into a public relations nightmare.
The Duchess struggled to come to terms with the setback, feeling as though her dreams and brand had become a subject of ridicule.
As efforts to mitigate the damage failed to yield positive results, Meghan found herself grappling with the uncertainty of how to recover from the debacle.
Speculation arose that she might consider discontinuing the dog biscuit line to avoid being associated with the unfavorable “Duchess of Dog Biscuits” label.
The future of Meghan Markle‘s entrepreneurial venture hangs in the balance, with the once-promising Riviera Orchard brand now overshadowed by the biting satire of South Park and the challenges of navigating public scrutiny.
Related Stories
