Meghan Markle’s latest Netflix cooking show has been making waves—not for its groundbreaking content or culinary brilliance, but for yet another over-the-top Markle moment that has left many rolling their eyes. Enter the now-infamous “Call Me Sussex” scene, which, according to royal commentator Neil Sean, required not one, not two, but four takes to get just right.
Picture the scene: Meghan, standing in a meticulously curated kitchen (which, unsurprisingly, isn’t hers), surrounded by an array of gleaming, untouched pots and pans. Everything is spotless, perfectly staged, and designed to exude effortless charm. Then walks in Mindy Kaling, the unsuspecting guest, brought in to add an air of authenticity to the entire charade.
As the cameras roll, Meghan dramatically declares, “You know, I’m Sussex now.” Then she does it again. And again. And just for good measure—one more time. Why? Because the first three takes simply weren’t quite right. The intonation, the facial expression, the carefully manufactured nonchalance—none of it met the Markle standard of performance art.
One might wonder why such a simple line required so many takes. Allegedly, Meghan needed to ensure the moment was dripping with just the right level of significance. After all, what could be more groundbreaking than a woman embracing a title that exists solely because of the very institution she and Harry can’t seem to stop criticizing?
Let’s take a step back and appreciate the sheer irony. Meghan Markle, the self-proclaimed feminist, the independent, forward-thinking, glass ceiling-smashing icon, is now gleefully shedding her maiden name in favor of a royal title bestowed upon her by the monarchy she claims to despise. And, of course, she had to do it in a kitchen, surrounded by cookware, in what was likely meant to be a cutesy, relatable feminist moment. Because nothing screams empowerment like making a grand statement about your identity while engaging in the most traditionally domestic of tasks.
The optics are impeccable—if you’re aiming for a 1950s housewife aesthetic.
But perhaps the most remarkable part? The voice. Oh yes, that voice. Meghan, ever the actress, opted for her signature breathy, over-enunciated tone—the one she reserves for moments meant to sound profound or, alternatively, like dialogue from a children’s bedtime story. If there’s one thing Meghan excels at, besides strategic victimhood and convenient reinvention, it’s her ability to take the mundane and turn it into an event. A simple phrase? Make it a dramatic declaration. A casual conversation? Ensure it’s dripping with self-importance. A cooking show? Transform it into a stage for personal rebranding.
This latest stunt only further reinforces the glaring contradiction that has followed Meghan and Harry from the start: Meghan is nothing without Harry, and Harry is a shell of himself because of her. Their entire brand is built on contradictions, self-importance, and an insatiable need for relevance. Every moment, no matter how trivial, must be carefully curated, polished, and served to the public as if it were a grand proclamation.
At the end of the day, Meghan Markle’s insistence on making every little thing an event is, quite frankly, exhausting. The infamous “Call Me Sussex” moment from her Netflix cooking show is just another in a long line of overly manufactured, painfully self-important spectacles. And it raises the question: Is there anything truly authentic about Meghan Markle?
Spoiler alert: Not the hair, not the teeth, not the nose, not the carefully staged kitchen, and certainly not this latest attempt at branding.
