Meghan Markle Faces $300k Payment Demand as Clevr Blends CEO Attributes Brand Decline to Damaging Ad

Meghan Markle has made a return to her acting roots, starring in a social media ad for the American coffee brand Clever, of which she is a part owner. Clever markets itself as offering superpowered lattes designed to boost energy, relieve stress, and aid sleep. The Insta ad, featuring Clever founder Hannah Mendoza, portrays Megan, also known as The Duchess, engaged in various activities at the Clever offices, including computer tasks, packing boxes, and running errands. However, some social media users found the ad cringey, with one joking that it was the most work Megan had done all year.

Critics labeled the ad as "pathetic," questioning Megan's career choices despite having a prominent Hollywood agent. Some pointed out that Oprah Winfrey, who famously interviewed Megan and Harry after their departure from the royal family, is also promoting Clever as part of "Oprah's Favorite Things." While Megan's move to the US has proven financially successful for her and Harry, with lucrative partnerships with Netflix and Spotify, Clever's recent marketing strategy appears to have backfired. Reports suggest that Clever's sales have dropped by 30% since Megan's commercial aired, leading CEO Hannah Mendoza to demand $300,000 in compensation, claiming that Megan's advertising harmed the brand.

Rumors are circulating that Megan is contemplating stepping back and allowing Harry to take the lead in their next business venture. Allegedly, Megan has been handling the majority of networking efforts and is feeling overwhelmed as several deals have fallen apart. Despite whispers about Megan collaborating with a French fashion house, insiders deny any truth to those claims, indicating that Megan won't be partnering with the fashion brand. It seems that Megan's return to acting and business is encountering more challenges than anticipated.