Opinion: Meghan, Duchess of Sussex’s New With Love, Meghan: A Reflection on Criticism, Culture, and Creative Expression

If you find yourself meticulously criticizing every moment of Meghan Sussex’s new Netflix series, With Love, Meghan, it’s worth asking why. Are you chasing clicks for your YouTube channel or major media outlet? Is this an opportunity to release your most deep-seated biases under the guise of critique? Or perhaps you are so consumed by self-loathing that the mere sight of someone unapologetically embracing their own identity and lifestyle unnerves you. Let’s break this down.

A Life Well-Traveled, A Perspective Well-Cultivated

Before the inevitable rebuttal from critics who might wish to “come for me,” let me make one thing abundantly clear: don’t bother. When discussing lifestyle, food, hospitality, and global experiences, there is a clear distinction between those who have cultivated this world and those who merely comment on it. I am not someone offering surface-level opinions—I have lived this life at its highest level. And when I see people who lack even the most basic knowledge of style, etiquette, or entertaining, yet feel entitled to critique someone else’s expertise, I find it odd. So before anyone dares to question my take, let’s establish exactly why my voice carries weight in this space.

From the very beginning, I have indulged in the art of fine living—learning from my mother and grandmother’s kitchens, absorbing their culinary mastery growing up. Once moving to a remote Bahamian island after college, I learned from locals as well as watched Great Chefs of the World religiously while tending to my newborn daughter. This was all before the era of chaotic reality cooking that now floods streaming services. I have witnessed the evolution of food television—from the competitive chaos of supermarket races and Bobby Flay’s Top Chef bravado, confidently standing on cutting islands after a celebratory win, to the elegance of Black lifestyle guru B. Smith, and finally, to Emeril Lagasse’s infectious enthusiasm, his signature “Bam!” adding flair to every dish, proving that great food can be both entertaining and expertly crafted.

I have immersed myself in a myriad of cultures and culinary traditions. From the savory Eastern European dishes Martha Stewart showcased that mirrored my mother’s cooking, to the soulful, generationally-passed-down artistry of Black American cuisine, I have been both an observer and a participant. While living in the Bahamas, I caught land crabs on the island of Andros, feeding them mangoes to enhance their richness, and refining techniques for Crab Fried Rice by incorporating pitch-black crab fat at just the right stage to preserve its depth of flavor.

Beyond food, I have curated and directed fashion editorial shoots in the same fields where I picked pineapples, grapefruit, and bananas in my own backyard. I have mastered croissants and duck confit, handcrafted piñatas, and orchestrated private dinner affairs for hundreds of guests at my daughter’s first birthday. While managing an international marketing firm and a print magazine, I hosted lavish events, including annual celebrations for my daughter, featuring Cirque du Soleil-inspired performances, Russian fire-eaters, contortionists, and DJs. I have dined at Michelin-starred restaurants across the world, leapt off cliffs and boats in Tobago, Capri, and the South of France, and cultivated a life that is as refined as it is adventurous.

So, let’s be clear—I do not speak from inexperience or uninformed opinion. I have seen it all. It is for no one to say these flourishes in life are trivial, out of touch or irrelevant. It’s called living your best life and showing up for the people you love, just as Meghan is doing.

Experiencing With Love, Meghan

When I sat down to watch With Love, Meghan, my expectations were high, as they always are when I choose to invest my time. As I previously wrote, when toxic discourse flooded our timelines with vitriol over any mention of the Princess, I do not know her personally, nor did I enter this viewing experience with preconceived notions. I was vaguely aware of the online chatter but remained indifferent to the obsessive criticism.

After watching the eight-part series, I formed my own perspective—not by immediately rushing online to dictate what Meghan should have done differently, but by acknowledging a fundamental truth: this is her vision, her voice, and her life to share as she chooses.

Was her cake the most intricate, jaw-dropping layer cake I have ever seen? No, and it wasn’t supposed to be. But was there anything wrong with it? Not at all. Did I personally need the floral ice tray hacks and bath salt demonstrations? No. But that simply means that those particular elements were not for me, just as other aspects of the show resonated deeply.

I found her guest segments engaging, particularly those featuring chefs, and I noted that even some of her harshest critics admitted that Roy Choi’s Korean fried chicken looked enticing. This, of course, raises the question: if even her detractors found merit in certain aspects, why the excessive outrage?

The Hypocrisy of Online Critics

What I find perplexing is the wave of detractors who—by their own admission—lack culinary skills, claim they have no time, or openly state that they lack the creativity to execute the very ideas they are criticizing. These same individuals, who have never ventured beyond their own limited worlds, have the audacity to declare that With Love, Meghan is unnecessary.

YouTubers in need of a haircut or two, whose hosts appear unwilling to put in the bare minimum style effort beyond a t-shirt and baseball cap before delivering critiques from behind a webcam, attempt to position themselves as arbiters of hospitality and elegance when critiquing Meghan. The irony is astounding.

And here is where the racial undertones of the backlash become impossible to ignore.

Curiously, critics have drawn comparisons between With Love, Meghan and Pamela Anderson’s recent foray into cooking and home entertaining. Yet, not a single think piece exists declaring that we ‘don’t need’ Anderson’s show. No barrage of YouTubers rolling their eyes at Anderson’s homemaking advice. No furious op-eds insisting that she lacks the credentials to share her personal tastes. Why the stark difference? The answer is clear: Meghan’s presence in this space disrupts an unspoken narrative about who is “allowed” to be a lifestyle figure—and who is not.

Women Are Showing Up—And That Matters

What I am witnessing is a strong presence of women, especially Black women, embracing Meghan’s series. They are recreating her recipes, mimicking her gardening techniques and brunch aesthetics, and appreciating the serenity and elegance she is bringing to the table.

So who has the authority to declare that this show is unnecessary? It is simply not for you—and that is okay.

As someone who has hosted extravagant international gatherings and embodies class, style, etiquette, and a rich cultural history—qualities that, let’s be honest, many struggle to appreciate when they come from a Black woman—I can recognize these same attributes in the Duchess. And let’s be clear: there is nothing wrong with speaking openly about our accomplishments. Black women should never feel the need to downplay our excellence or silence ourselves about the extraordinary lives we’ve built. That includes humor as well.

Too often, Meghan’s quirky, harmless humor throughout the series is dismissed. Can they just let her live? Commentators continue to compare her to Martha Stewart, but Meghan has never claimed to be her—nor does she need to be. She is simply sharing her life in a way that feels authentic to her, and that should be enough. At no point did she claim to be a trained chef, so perhaps it’s time to let these outlandish critiques go.

Meanwhile, critics love to shame Meghan by claiming she is only relevant because she married Prince Harry. Not only is that false, but even if it weren’t—so what? Like anyone else who has married into the Royal Family, she has every right to build a life and career on her own terms. This is who Meghan is, this is the vision she has chosen, and this is her platform to express it. She’s sharing moments with friends, some new, some old, and giving us a glimpse into where she is in life right now.

Would I love to see more Black American, Caribbean, and West Indian representation in With Love, Meghan and it’s recipes? Absolutely. But Meghan is under no obligation to cater to anyone beyond what she knows, has experienced, and loves. That said, when a dedicated audience embraces and supports your work, recognizing and incorporating their presence in future seasons is not just thoughtful—it’s essential. And I am confident it’s on the horizon.

The Right to Reinvent Oneself

Everyone wants you to follow the herd, and I can relate to Meghan in that way—when something no longer serves you, you pivot. Look at the women who have reinvented themselves in the public eye without question—Gwyneth Paltrow transitioned from an actress to a wellness mogul. Victoria Beckham evolved from a pop star to a high-end designer, yet no one demanded she stick to singing. Why is Meghan expected to stay frozen in time as “The Duchess” and nothing more?

The Strongest Message: Simply Existing

For all the outrage, one undeniable truth remains: Meghan is crafting a life that speaks to a certain audience—one that values self-expression, elegance, and individuality. And if a woman daring to define her own path, rather than conforming to outdated expectations, is enough to send critics into a spiral, then the issue was never about Meghan—it has always been about them.

With Love, Meghan is streaming now on Netflix.