The latest media storm surrounding Meghan Markle’s lifestyle brand has taken a new turn, and this time it isn’t being driven only by tabloid headlines or online speculation. In the wake of Piers Morgan’s fiery 2026 on-air rant questioning Meghan’s public image, business heavyweight Kevin O’Leary has added his own sharply worded perspective — one that has pushed the debate beyond celebrity gossip and into the realm of brand credibility and commercial reality.
Why Meghan Markle’s Brand Failed: Kevin O’Leary’s Brutal Honest Truth
O’Leary, known for his blunt, numbers-first approach on Shark Tank, was asked during a recent media appearance about the growing criticism of Meghan’s venture. While he stopped short of making any claims about internal finances, his assessment was unsparing. In his view, celebrity brands often suffer from a dangerous imbalance: massive attention, but fragile foundations. “Fame can bring traffic,” he said, “but it can’t replace infrastructure, pricing discipline, or a clear value proposition. If the product doesn’t stand on its own, the spotlight just makes the cracks more visible.”
That comment instantly went viral, with supporters of Morgan using it as proof that their skepticism was justified, while Meghan’s fans accused O’Leary of jumping onto a media bandwagon. Either way, it underscored a key issue that has followed Meghan’s brand since its launch: is it a serious business, or is it primarily an extension of her personal narrative?
Why Meghan Markle’s Brand Failed: Kevin O’Leary’s Brutal Honest Truth
Piers Morgan, for his part, has been relentless. On his Channel 5 program, he framed Meghan’s latest reinvention as “more Hollywood than honest,” arguing that her brand image feels “carefully scripted.” His critics say he has never been able to move past his personal dislike of Meghan, and that his commentary says more about him than it does about her. But even some neutral observers admit that when a controversial figure like Morgan finds unexpected backup from a business icon like O’Leary, the conversation shifts.
What’s notable is that O’Leary’s critique wasn’t about Meghan’s character — it was about the marketplace. Lifestyle brands, he explained, are brutally competitive. Consumers today expect not only authenticity, but quality, consistency, and clear value for money. “If you’re charging premium prices, the product has to feel premium in every way,” he said. “Celebrity opens the door, but it doesn’t keep customers coming back.”
For Meghan, this is a familiar dilemma. Since stepping away from royal duties, she has worked hard to build an identity that blends activism, storytelling, and entrepreneurship. To her supporters, that journey represents courage and reinvention. To her critics, it looks like constant rebranding without a stable core. The clash between those two narratives is what keeps every new project she launches under an intense microscope.
Meghan’s blunders with her brand show why she failed at being a royal : r/SaintMeghanMarkle
So far, Meghan has not responded publicly to either Morgan’s latest attack or O’Leary’s remarks. That silence has allowed both sides to fill the vacuum with their own interpretations. Some see it as a strategic decision — letting the product speak for itself. Others see it as a missed opportunity to push back against what they view as unfair framing.
What’s certain is that the scrutiny isn’t going away. Celebrity-led brands are no longer novelties; they are expected to perform like real companies. In that environment, Meghan’s venture is being judged not just on her name, but on its ability to compete in a crowded, unforgiving market.
Whether Kevin O’Leary’s words prove prophetic or merely provocative remains to be seen. But combined with Piers Morgan’s ongoing media blitz, they have ensured one thing: Meghan Markle’s brand is no longer just a lifestyle project. It has become a high-stakes public test of whether star power can truly translate into lasting business success.
