**Meghan Markle Hurt and Frustrated by Martha Stewart’s Remarks Questioning Her Credibility as a Lifestyle Figure**
*Published Sept. 30, 2025, 5:32 p.m. ET*
Meghan Markle is still hurting and frustrated by recent remarks from Martha Stewart that questioned her credibility as a lifestyle figure. Insiders have told RadarOnline.com that Stewart’s comments landed an extra punch since they came just as the duchess was working hard to build her new brand and expand her presence on Netflix.
The 44-year-old Duchess of Sussex has been steadily repositioning herself—from former royal to Montecito tastemaker.
### Stewart’s Comments Hit Hard
After years of mixed public reception, Meghan has earned praise from fans but also faced waves of criticism surrounding her Netflix cooking and home series *With Love, Meghan*. The show recently returned for a second season, coinciding with the rebranding of her lifestyle label, As Ever.
However, Stewart’s high-profile dismissal of Meghan’s “authenticity” has clearly struck a nerve.
A Hollywood source shared, “Meghan came across Martha’s remarks online like everybody else, and they really hit a nerve. Martha heaped praise on Gwyneth Paltrow, then turned around and admitted she didn’t know Meghan before casting doubt on her credibility. To Meghan, it felt calculated, and she hasn’t been able to shake it since.”
During an interview, Stewart called Goop founder Gwyneth Paltrow “pretty powerful” and praised her Oscar win and lifestyle empire. She then added, “Meghan, I don’t really know very well, and I hope she knows what she’s talking about. Authenticity, to me, is everything.”
### Career Stakes on the Line
Another insider noted, “Martha isn’t careless—she understands the weight her words carry with TV bosses and lifestyle gatekeepers, and Meghan knows it too. The timing couldn’t be more damaging, coming just as Meghan is trying to secure a new solo Netflix deal with her Sussex contract about to expire. Having Martha publicly question her authenticity risks sowing doubts in exactly the rooms where Meghan needs backing.”
Markle, who previously ran the lifestyle blog *The Tig* before meeting Prince Harry, 41, has spent the past year crafting her post-royal identity. She soft-launched her brand by sending strawberry jam to friends before unveiling As Ever with more ambitious plans.
Her Netflix series, filmed on a Montecito set designed to mirror her family home, has been praised for its accessible recipes and relaxed hosting style.
### A Crowded Lifestyle Market
Critics argue the duchess is stepping into crowded territory.
“In Hollywood circles, it’s no secret that Martha has been dismissive of Meghan’s attempt to brand herself as the next domestic goddess,” another source revealed. “With her influence, she could easily create obstacles for Meghan. The real concern is that other high-profile figures might echo Martha’s stance and feed the narrative that Meghan isn’t the real deal.”
The backdrop is challenging. Sympathy for the Sussexes has waned since their high-profile royal exit in 2020, and the couple’s $100 million Spotify partnership collapsed last year.
While Harry pursued legal battles over his U.K. security arrangements, Markle focused on investing her energy in brand-building—making Stewart’s comments all the more damaging.
### Meghan’s Response
A source added, “Meghan’s fed up with having to bite her tongue. A big part of her would love to call Martha out for being so dismissive, but she realizes the wiser move is to stay focused and let her work speak for itself.
“Even so, it hurt—she feels like whenever she makes headway, someone influential takes a swing at her simply because it’s become trendy to knock her and Harry.”
For now, Markle is said to be channeling her frustration into further cementing As Ever and *With Love, Meghan*. But with Stewart’s remarks lingering in Hollywood circles, the duchess faces an uphill battle to prove she belongs in the lifestyle elite.
https://radaronline.com/p/meghan-markle-stung-martha-stewart-lifestyle-takedown/
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