Hannah Mendoza Furious as Meghan Markle's First Appearance Causes 30% Drop in Clevr Coffee Brand Sales

Meghan Markle's unexpected appearance in an Instagram ad for Clever Blends, a coffee brand she has invested in, has raised eyebrows among royal fans and sparked a discussion about her motivations. In the commercial, Meghan takes on the role of an intern, engaging in various tasks like stacking boxes, preparing hot drinks, and working on a computer in the digital department. The ad concludes with a comical scene where Meghan fails to execute a fist bump with a team member, leading to laughter all around.

Royal fans quickly called out Meghan for her participation in the ad, with some expressing skepticism about her intentions. One critic accused her of lacking shame and trying to profit from a company she had invested in during the holiday rush, questioning the authenticity of her role. Another comment highlighted Meghan's perceived struggles with the ad's contrived nature, including multiple unnecessary outfit changes, to sell products and boost her earnings.

Amid this backlash, the Clever Coffee brand reportedly suffered a significant blow, experiencing a 30% drop in revenue following Meghan's appearance. This decline left Hannah Mendoza, the CEO and co-founder of the company, furious, attributing the downturn to Meghan's involvement.

Meghan had been an investor in Clever Blends since 2020 and had previously appeared in promotional content for the wellness coffee brand. In a 2023 Instagram post, Clever Blends expressed gratitude for the support it had received and the surge in business.

Meghan's investment in Clever Blends was initially confirmed in December 2020, and she had promoted the brand by sending products to Oprah Winfrey. While Meghan had shared her investment publicly, she had been relatively silent about it in the following years. Nevertheless, in November, she posted a glowing five-star review of the brand and a photo of herself with Mendoza, expressing her support for the ethical sourcing of ingredients and holistic wellness approach that the brand embodies.

Clever Blends, based in Santa Barbara, California, initially caught Meghan's attention in 2017 when she sampled its superfood coffee at a pop-up store. The company's proximity to Montecito, where Harry and Meghan reside, likely played a role in her investment decision.

In a statement to Fortune in 2019, Meghan had explained her investment as a way to support a passionate female entrepreneur and her commitment to ethical sourcing and community building. Mendoza, in turn, had expressed gratitude for Meghan's investment and their aligned partnership.

Overall, Meghan Markle's involvement in Clever Blends and her recent appearance in its advertisement generated both praise and criticism, while also impacting the brand's sales.