Meghan Markle seems to have a knack for landing herself in sticky situations. This time, though, it’s not about royal drama or public scandals. Instead, the buzz surrounds her upcoming Netflix show, *With Love, Meghan,* which may now require some last-minute editing to erase a segment featuring a Michelin-starred restaurateur who’s currently facing felony charges.
The saga began when Meghan and Prince Harry decided to sprinkle their star power over *La Barbecue,* a trendy BBQ joint in Austin, Texas. But this wasn’t your average pop-in for a quick bite. No, this was a carefully orchestrated royal photo op at a celebrity-endorsed hotspot. And why not? The place had just snagged a coveted Michelin star.
The restaurant's owner, Alison Clem, and her late wife were reportedly overjoyed to host the royal couple. The visit included the usual royal fanfare: warm hugs, big smiles, and a hearty discussion about the art of Texas BBQ pit cooking. Of course, there were plenty of social media photos to document the occasion, all of which were pre-approved, according to the restaurant’s director, Corey Rader. It was, by all accounts, a perfectly curated event.
But then things took a turn for the dramatic.
As it turns out, Alison Clem is now facing serious legal trouble. She’s been indicted for a $350,000 insurance fraud scheme related to a worker’s injury at her restaurant. That’s right—the very establishment Meghan and Harry decided to highlight on their Netflix show is now embroiled in a scandal that’s far less savory than the BBQ it serves. Workers' compensation fraud and a criminal case? Not exactly the kind of publicity a royal couple wants, especially when it’s linked to their heavily-promoted Netflix series.
Now, Meghan is reportedly in damage control mode, scrambling to cut any footage of Clem from the show before it airs. It seems the royal duo didn’t do much homework before this visit. If they had, they might have discovered that the beloved BBQ joint had been operating without workers' comp insurance for a staggering 20 months prior to the alleged injury.
It’s almost impressive how many missteps can occur during a single royal outing. A quick background check could have saved everyone the embarrassment, but instead, Meghan and Harry left *La Barbecue* with glowing smiles, warm hugs, and even an "I love your food" text sent afterward.
Now, the Netflix series *With Love, Meghan* appears to be undergoing some significant changes. Rumors suggest an entire episode might be scrapped, while others hint at the addition of a new "emergency" episode to shift the narrative. Perhaps Meghan will pivot to a heartwarming scene of herself in a disaster zone, hugging fire victims for the cameras—though critics might point out she’s already been accused of staging moments like that in the past.
Whether or not Meghan can salvage this situation remains to be seen, but one thing’s for sure: the BBQ wasn’t the only thing cooking during this visit.
