Meghan Markle 'stealing' claim shut down by business owner: 'Drag a woman down'

Meghan Markle's latest career announcement has led to continued backlash, following her new Netflix series, With Love, Meghan being largely panned. The Duchess of Sussex has now revealed she's also giving podcasting another go, after releasing just one season of her Archetypes podcast with Spotify.

Meghan has faced relentless criticism on social media in recent weeks, particularly after she announced that she had changed the name of her lifestyle brand from American Rivera Orchard to As Ever. The former actress was accused of 'stealing' the name from a small New York-based clothing line, in what was called a 'panic launch' by a royal expert.

Now, Meghan has revealed her new podcast will be titled Confessions of a Female Founder – leading to fresh accusations of plagiarism. However, one of the women she is accused of 'stealing' her podcast name from has defended the Duchess, telling Yahoo Lifestyle that she doubts Meghan has ever even come across her business venture.

What is Meghan Markle's new podcast?

Meghan shared her latest career update on Instagram writing, "I’m so excited to share with you something else I’ve been working on: Confessions of a Female Founder, my new podcast with @lemonadamedia!

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"I’ve been having candid conversations with amazing women who have turned dreams into realities, and scaled small ideas into massively successful businesses. They’re opening up, sharing their tips, tricks (and tumbles), and letting me pick their brains as I build out my own business, As ever. It has been absolutely eye-opening, inspiring…and fun! (Because what’s the point if we can’t have some fun on this wild adventure?)."

The first episode will be released on April 8th.

Meghan accused of 'stealing again' with new podcast

While many fans were excited for the new podcast, others claimed Meghan had stolen the idea from other women, tweeting comments such as "Tell me you don’t have a single original thought without telling me you don’t have a single original thought..." and accusing the Duchess of "stealing ideas again."

Podcasts such as Confessions of a CEO with Kelci Borges, another podcast called Confessions of a Founder by Alysha M Campbella and a YouTube series titled Confessions of a Female Founder by YouTuber Kady Méite have all been cited as places Meghan may have taken inspiration from.

Business owner defends Meghan Markle against accusations of 'stealing'

Speaking with Yahoo Lifestyle, Kady says, "I completely understand why people are drawing connections, and I truly appreciate the support and understand their intention. But I also understand coincidences as well. It is highly unlikely Meghan even came across my channel but I am flattered by the thought."

She added, "What does concern me is how quickly this is turning into another reason to drag a woman down. That’s not something I want to contribute to. I know firsthand what it feels like to have my work actually copied...this isn’t that."

Dr Amanda Gordon, a clinical psychologist who works in Sydney's Edgecliffe, tells Yahoo Lifestyle there's a reason why people continue to lash out at everything that Meghan does, and it's "not always hatred."

"When people put themselves forward as being something special, and they disappoint, then people are going to be disappointed!," she says. "Often when celebrities set themselves up as being something special, something superior, then people are waiting for superiority, but also waiting for the fall," she explains.

"But I think the word hate is a strong one around celebrities," she adds. "I think it's more likely that people are sort of saying, 'You set yourself up as being something fantastic, and if you're not fantastic, I'm going to notice.'"

Why people love to 'pile on' Meghan Markle

Despite the accusations, many also defended Meghan and seem to be celebrating her new venture, with one fan writing, "Love Princess Meghan. The haters are about to have another meltdown."

"This is actually really disappointing. First, #WithLoveMeghan was only 8 episodes, and now this one is as well! More, please!" another said. "I’m excited to listen, though. Archetypes was fantastic."

Some also said that the haters were trying too hard to tear Meghan down, with one hitting back, "You're actually takin the piss now cos you cant be this stupid my god 😂 You're not understanding how desperate and stupid you look."

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It certainly seems as though Meghan can't win. Speaking about the 'mob mentality' and the pile on that's happening, Dr Gordon tells us, "I mean, it's horrible, isn't it? But people do want to join the gang. They start thinking, 'If all these people hate her, there must be something wrong with her,' or 'I'll go along with it, so that they don't turn on me.'

"Because that's the other worry, isn't it, that there becomes a sort of gang mentality. If you can bully her, then you can bully other people, and people don't want to be bullied, so they might pretend even to hate rather than be caught up in the 'Why didn't you say anything?'."

As for Kady, she wishes Meghan nothing but the best, telling us, "I wish Meghan, Duchess of Sussex all the success. There’s enough space for all of us to create. And, who knows, maybe one day I’ll be a fellow female founder on the podcast."

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