It seems Chef José Andrés, founder of World Central Kitchen and a champion of disaster relief, has found himself swept into a storm of royal proportions—courtesy of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.
According to a blind item on CDAN, Andrés wasn’t exactly rolling out the red carpet when the Sussexes decided to visit Los Angeles fire victims. However, he ended up in the same photo frame as the duo, smiling through what some have called a “disaster tourism” spectacle with a side of PR flair.
The blind item alleges that Andrés took thinly veiled digs at Harry and Meghan, referring to them as a "huge pain" during their visit. Yet, despite these grievances, Andrés still posed for photographs with the pair—perhaps out of politeness or pragmatism. After all, the Sussexes reportedly contributed $300,000 for the privilege of being associated with his globally renowned charity.
While Harry and Meghan were busy playing the part of goodwill ambassadors, it’s worth noting that Jeff Bezos had already pledged $100 million to Andrés in 2021 to fund his efforts. That kind of money sends a clear message: “I don’t need your drama or your pocket change.” But running a global disaster relief organization isn’t always smooth sailing. Sometimes, you smile and bear it—even when your donors bring along a camera crew and a Netflix deal.
So, what do the Sussexes bring to the table? Critics argue it’s not hard work or a deep understanding of philanthropy. Meghan may dream of Netflix-worthy collaborations with Andrés, but the chef’s success is rooted in genuine effort, not staged photo ops. As one commentator cheekily put it, “Andrés helps people in real disasters; Harry and Meghan… well, they *are* disasters.”
While Chef Andrés continues to provide meals in crisis zones, the Sussexes are reportedly scrounging for funds to sustain their charitable endeavors. Meghan’s corporate buzzwords like “partnerships” and “collaborations” make her sound more like a Silicon Valley startup than a dedicated humanitarian. Meanwhile, Andrés seems to be walking a delicate line, trying to keep the peace while avoiding the whirlwind of self-promotion that follows the couple.
During their visit, Andrés’ expression reportedly betrayed less-than-thrilled feelings, though he later issued a public statement praising their involvement. According to the chef, “The amazing thing is that they show up.” Amazing, indeed, for a couple whose main skill seems to be showing up for cameras.
To be fair, criticizing donors—even the difficult ones—might not be the best strategy for a global charity leader. But some argue Andrés could have avoided the whole spectacle by simply disappearing when the Sussexes arrived. After all, disappearing is something the couple has experience with, given their track record with royal duties.
As is typical with the Sussexes, their visit sparked skepticism. One commentator claimed Andrés had been “Mared,” accusing him of following Meghan’s alleged playbook: “Lie, deny, gaslight, and play the victim.” While that might be an exaggeration, it’s hard to ignore how quickly the visit shifted from being about fire victims to being about royal PR.
Andrés likely sees this as a minor hiccup in the grand scheme of things. The world will move on from this photo op, just as it has from countless other Sussex headlines. Meanwhile, his charity will continue feeding those in need, and Harry and Meghan will keep feeding the tabloids.
At the end of the day, Chef José Andrés has a mission to fulfill, and it’s an important one. Whether he’s thanking volunteers or reluctantly posing with “disaster tourists,” his focus remains on the bigger picture: helping people. If that means tolerating a few grifters to keep his work going, so be it.
