It was meant to be a lighthearted cooking segment—a warm, engaging addition to Netflix’s "With Love, Meghan." Instead, what we witnessed was a fleeting but unmistakable moment of unfiltered rage, as Meghan Markle’s carefully polished mask slipped just long enough for the cameras to capture what can only be described as the "Glare of Doom."
In the now-infamous clip, celebrity chef Roy Choi commits what appears to be an unthinkable offense—he speaks. Not just speaks, but corrects Meghan.
The moment unfolds innocently enough. Choi hands Meghan a container of MSG while preparing Korean fried chicken, prompting her to scrunch her nose ever so slightly. "A little bit of MSG? I don’t know enough about it," she says, suddenly assuming the role of a culinary historian from the early 2000s. "I just remember people used to say ‘no MSG.’ I don’t quite know why that happened."
Choi, oblivious to the impending storm, offers a thoughtful history lesson, explaining how the MSG scare was deeply rooted in racist attitudes toward Chinese restaurants. His response is informative and well-meaning, but Meghan does not take kindly to being outshined in the education department.
The moment the words leave Choi’s mouth, a flicker of fury crosses Meghan’s face. How dare he correct her? Does he not realize who he is addressing? For a brief second, Meghan’s carefully curated facade shatters. Her eyes narrow, lips purse, and an icy tension settles over the kitchen. It’s a look that has likely sent shivers down Prince Harry’s spine on more than one occasion. This is not a woman accustomed to being corrected. No, Meghan is the one who educates, who lectures, who bestows wisdom upon those she deems less informed.
Unaware of the discomfort building in the room, Choi continues speaking, while Meghan’s brain appears to momentarily short-circuit—caught between maintaining her polished, TV-friendly persona and her obvious irritation at having her show’s narrative disrupted. She quickly scrambles to regain control, nodding stiffly and forcing out a curt, "Very true. I’m glad we’ve evolved in that way," before hastily moving on—though the restrained frustration still smolders in her gaze.
Fans of Chef Roy Choi were left perplexed as to why he even agreed to appear on "With Love, Meghan" in the first place. After all, this is the same chef who collaborated with Jon Favreau on "The Chef Show," a well-received Netflix series that resonated with audiences. Why trade that in for a guest spot on a program seemingly held together by forced enthusiasm and a lingering dream of royal relevance?
Perhaps he underestimated just how tightly scripted Meghan’s world is. Maybe he thought the show was actually about cooking. Instead, he found himself navigating an environment where even the smallest deviation from "The Meghan Markle Show" results in a soul-piercing glare and an unspoken but unmistakable mental note to have him erased from future guest lists.
The fallout from this moment is still unfolding, but one thing is certain—Roy Choi now understands what it means to challenge the Duchess of Montecito. Whether or not he’ll ever be allowed back into her kitchen kingdom remains to be seen.
