Instagram has observed a surge in profiles mimicking Meghan Markle's newly launched lifestyle brand, American Riviera Orchard. Meghan unveiled her latest business venture on Thursday through a captivating video, hinting at what the venture might entail. The announcement quickly garnered over 339,000 followers. However, an insider disclosed that she had purchased more than 200,000 fake followers. This unexpected revelation triggered significant speculation about the nature of the venture and the meaning behind its name.
Despite the ambiguity surrounding the venture, other Instagram users wasted no time replicating variations of Meghan's new Instagram handle. This replication poses a potential risk of scams once American Riviera Orchard is operational. Within just 24 hours, at least 15 users had created accounts under the name American Riviera Orchard, with some already amassing over a thousand followers. This suggests that they might be mistaken for Meghan.
Many of these accounts not only adopt the name American Riviera Orchard but also utilize Meghan's logo, which bears a striking resemblance to a royal crest. The logo features the initials "A" and "R," presumably representing American Riviera. Furthermore, other accounts boldly claim to be run by the Duchess herself, stating the name as "Meghan, Duchess of Sussex."
While the exact nature of Meghan's new business remains unclear, if it involves selling products in the future, consumers could be at risk of purchasing from fraudulent accounts. The insider also revealed that Meghan Markle's official account was followed by bot accounts, contributing to the increase in followers. These bots include her former assistant, who left the job several months ago.
According to the assistant, acquiring 250,000 followers in a day is exceedingly difficult, even for celebrities. Purchased followers typically trickle in gradually, unlike the rapid and steady increase observed on Meghan's account. This growth pattern, characterized by a significant number of followers with suspicious accounts and negligible engagement, strongly suggests the purchase of followers.
Moreover, the cost of acquiring followers can be surprisingly inexpensive, with reports suggesting rates as low as $100 for 10 million followers. As of now, Meghan's follower count appears to be increasing by approximately 10,000 followers per hour, significantly less than a few hours ago. This trend raises doubts about the authenticity of her followers and the credibility of her brand launch on Instagram.
Comparisons with other celebrities further highlight the abnormality of Meghan's follower growth. While she gained 251,000 followers in 7 hours, other celebrities like Rupert Grint, Angelina Jolie, and David Attenborough achieved significantly higher numbers in shorter time frames. This stark contrast raises suspicions about the legitimacy of Meghan's follower count and the authenticity of her brand's online presence.
