Moren Callahan, a columnist for the *Daily Mail*, has launched a scathing critique of Meghan Markle, questioning the Duchess of Sussex’s public persona and true motivations. Callahan’s analysis weaves together key events, presenting a narrative that portrays Meghan as a figure of hypocrisy and strategic self-promotion.
At the heart of Callahan’s criticism is the Sussexes’ recent three-day visit to Nigeria, an engagement facilitated by the country’s Chief of Defense Staff, General Christopher Musa. While Prince Harry and Meghan promoted their Archewell Foundation’s mental health initiatives and celebrated Nigeria’s inaugural participation in the Invictus Games, Callahan sees the trip as a glaring contradiction. She argues that their visit stands in stark contrast to their ongoing public feud with the British royal family, highlighting what she perceives as an inconsistency between their charitable efforts and their tumultuous relationship with Harry’s relatives.
Callahan further suggests that the Nigerian trip was a calculated attempt to rehabilitate the couple’s image—a strategy she believes ultimately backfired, further damaging their reputation. She characterizes the visit as a "de facto royal tour," underscoring the irony of the Sussexes engaging in activities reminiscent of their former roles despite their claims of wanting to step away from royal life.
Adding to her critique, Callahan points to Meghan Markle’s simultaneous launch of her lifestyle brand, *American Riviera Orchard*, and the buzz surrounding an upcoming Netflix series. The timing of these ventures, aligning with the Nigerian visit, is cited as further evidence of Meghan’s strategic approach to self-promotion.
The columnist also highlights Meghan’s conspicuous absence from this year’s Met Gala, an event where her past connections to Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour would have seemingly secured her an invitation. Callahan suggests that Meghan’s exclusion was intentional, arguing that Wintour—an ardent supporter of the monarchy—may have distanced herself from Meghan due to the ongoing tensions between the Sussexes and the royal family.
Expanding on the theme of social snubs, Callahan references a *Vogue* article that detailed an exclusive pre-Gala dinner hosted by Gwyneth Paltrow at her Montecito estate. The guest list featured high-profile names, including Oprah Winfrey and Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos—both figures closely tied to Meghan and Harry’s professional and personal lives. However, Meghan’s absence from the gathering, despite her proximity to Montecito’s elite circles, is viewed by Callahan as a deliberate slight. She suggests that *Vogue’s* subtle wording in describing Montecito as the "American Riviera" was a thinly veiled jab at Meghan’s new lifestyle brand, hinting at her perceived struggles to gain full acceptance within Hollywood’s inner circles.
Callahan concludes her critique by arguing that these events—the Nigerian trip, the launch of *American Riviera Orchard*, the Met Gala exclusion, and the perceived *Vogue* snub—collectively expose a growing skepticism toward Meghan Markle in the United States. Unlike certain segments of the British public who may still buy into her narrative, Callahan suggests that many Americans are now seeing through the carefully curated image Meghan has cultivated.
According to the columnist, the pattern emerging from these incidents underscores a fundamental disconnect between Meghan’s public persona and her private reality. As more high-profile figures seemingly distance themselves, Callahan asserts that Meghan’s efforts to position herself as an influential force in Hollywood and beyond may not be as successful as she had envisioned.
