Meghan Markle has reportedly faced backlash over the timing of her latest “As Ever” announcement, which arrived just hours after Dolly Parton’s passing. The Duchess of Sussex, 45, promoted a new Spiced Apple Butter for her lifestyle brand on Tuesday, August 25.
Meghan Markle reportedly faces backlash over As Ever launch timing
The announcement came less than five hours after Parton’s family shared news of the country music icon’s passing at 80, according to Radar Online. Parton’s nephew, Bryan Seaver, announced her passing in a video shared across the singer’s social media accounts shortly before 11 a.m. PST. Soon after, celebrities, musicians, and fans flooded social media with emotional tributes to the beloved star.
Meanwhile, Markle continued promoting Meghan Markle “As Ever” products. Just before 3 p.m. PST, she shared an Instagram post advertising the new Spiced Apple Butter. The timing quickly caught attention online. Some critics questioned whether the announcement had been scheduled in advance and wondered why the brand did not postpone it following Parton’s death.
On Reddit, several users criticized the decision. One commenter argued that “no one cares about anything else” following Parton’s passing. Another user pointed to the connection between apple butter and the American South, saying the timing made the announcement appear particularly insensitive given Parton’s cultural significance.
However, there is no indication in the supplied report that Markle personally timed the announcement to coincide with the news of Parton’s passing. A pre-scheduled social media post could explain why the promotion appeared when it did. Still, the timing created an awkward moment for Markle “As Ever”, especially as tributes to Parton dominated the online conversation.
The criticism also comes as “As Ever” continues to expand its lifestyle offerings. Markle has used the brand to promote food, home, and lifestyle products while building her post-royal business ventures. For now, the online reaction remains focused on the timing rather than the product itself. While some critics have described the move as “tone-deaf,” others have suggested that scheduled marketing could explain the announcement.
Originally reported by Samridhi Goel on RealityTea.
