“She Can’t Cook!” Meghan Markle’s Thanksgiving Reveal Triggers New Controversy Online

Meghan Markle just gave the world a rare peek into how her family celebrates Thanksgiving — and fans couldn’t look away. But, as always, critics quickly jumped in with harsh comments, accusing the video of being “too staged” and “too perfect.”

Meghan Markle shares a look inside her thanksgiving day

Meghan Markle just revealed how she and Prince Harry are getting ready for Thanksgiving with their two kids in their stunning $30-million home. Recently released footage shows Meghan in a burgundy holiday dress carefully glazing a turkey at the family’s dining table — and the whole moment looks straight out of a festive ad.

The clips also capture Meghan setting up an elegant table arrangement, complete with cloth napkins tied with green velvet ribbons and placed on fine china plates.

However, critics — as always — rushed to tear Meghan’s video apart. Some complained it looked “too staged,” others said it was “too luxurious for a family holiday.” A few even accused her of “trying to impress people,” while fans insisted she was simply sharing a cozy moment from her family’s Thanksgiving prep.

• Never seen anything so faux and artificial. She has no idea of authenticity.
• Again, she takes the most basic things everyone does and makes herself sound like she has special expertise + superior knowledge. People know how to do Thanksgiving, Meg.
• She can’t cook, she has staff that prepare the rooms, clean, cook, garden, harvest and package, all she does is take the credit that belongs to ones actually doing the work.

Previously, Meghan had already faced criticism over her show, so the new backlash didn’t exactly come as a surprise.

Two shows, one vision

Pamela Anderson’s cooking and lifestyle show, Cooking With Love has already gathered a fan base online, with some viewers being surprised when they saw the promotional trailer for With Love, Meghan, Meghan Markle’s upcoming Netflix series. The Duchess of Sussex announced her show last month, which will focus on cooking, gardening, and hosting tips, but it wasn’t long before comparisons were drawn between the two projects.

At first glance, both series appear to follow a similar premise—inviting guests into a beautifully curated home, sharing personal insights, and offering practical lifestyle tips. But what caught people’s attention were the nearly identical elements in their promotional clips.

The copy-cat trailer

Viewers who watched both trailers were quick to notice a striking resemblance. Meghan, 43, can be seen strolling through a garden, admiring fresh produce, and later welcoming guests into a sunlit kitchen—a sequence highly similar to Anderson’s trailer, almost frame by frame.

Even the wording used by both women is similar. Anderson states, “I just always have wanted to take things to another level,” while Meghan declares, “I’ve always loved taking something pretty ordinary and elevating it.”

A name too close for comfort

The controversy doesn’t stop at aesthetics or dialogue—the titles of both series have also sparked debate. Anderson’s Pamela’s Cooking With Love was publicly announced in early 2023, long before Markle’s With Love, Meghan was introduced in January 2024.

Given the close timing of their releases, though, some argue that Netflix’s tight production schedules would make deliberate copying truly unlikely.

It doesn’t seem to end with Pamela

This isn’t the first time Meghan’s show has been accused of borrowing heavily from other creators. Shortly after her trailer’s release, viewers began pointing out similarities between her cooking segments and those from Emma’s Kitchen, a YouTube series hosted by Emma Weymouth, Marchioness of Bath.

To top it all off, the beekeeping scene in Meghan’s trailer sent royal fans into a frenzy. They claim she was imitating her sister-in-law, Catherine, Princess of Wales, who has long been known for her passion for bees.

Earlier, Meghan also shared footage from the maternity ward — clips that were meant to be heartfelt but ended up sparking just as much controversy.