Meghan Markle: The Fake Feminist, Fake Philanthropist, and Now, Breathless Wicker Basket-Carrying, Salad-Tossing, Home-Cooked Meal Enthusiast*
If you just did a double-take, you’re not alone. Apparently, Pamela Anderson fans think they’ve seen this show before.
Pamela Anderson’s *Cooking With Love* launched just last week, filled with wholesome shots of the former *Baywatch* star frolicking in her idyllic country kitchen, picking fresh produce from her garden, and whipping up culinary delights with her famous friends.
Well, enter Meghan Markle. Just days later, *With Love, Meghan* drops on Netflix, featuring—wait for it—a beaming Meghan in a rustic setting, harvesting fresh ingredients, chatting with photogenic guests, and plating meals with the kind of overzealous enthusiasm usually reserved for infomercial hosts. Oh, and both shows have eight episodes.
In an exclusive interview with *People* magazine, Meghan shared her passion for making food aesthetically pleasing—even takeout. She also waxed poetic about her trademark phrase, “as ever,” which she pivoted to after failing to secure the copyright for “American Riviera Orchard.” But don’t worry, she’s learned a lot from her mistakes. Apparently, not about originality, though.
Pamela’s team, ever the picture of grace, took the high road. Jesse Fawcett, co-creator and executive producer of *Cooking With Love*, dismissed the controversy with a shrug, saying they take pride in “planting the first seeds.” Translation: “Yeah, we saw it first, but we’re too classy to say anything more.”
Pamela’s fans, however, are not feeling so forgiving. Social media is buzzing with accusations that Meghan’s show is nothing more than a glorified copy-paste job.
*Cooking With Love* versus *With Love, Meghan*—not even trying to hide it at this point.
Both shows feature sun-drenched kitchens and perfectly rustic settings. The only real difference? The locations. Pamela’s kitchen is in her own $5 million Vancouver Island estate, while Meghan reportedly rented a home near her $14.5 million Montecito mansion.
Wicker baskets? Check. Slow-motion shots of honey drizzling? Check. Homemade ice cream? Check. The only thing missing is a synchronized dance routine.
Pamela: “I love to cook and take things to the next level.”
Meghan: “I love taking something ordinary and elevating it.”
It’s almost as if someone forgot to change the wording on the homework assignment.
To add another layer of déjà vu, Pamela’s show was actually commissioned a full year ago, with a trailer released in October 2023—well before Meghan’s cameras even started rolling. So, if there’s any inspiration happening here, it’s looking a little one-sided.
And here lies Meghan’s ongoing branding problem. One day, she’s an outspoken feminist advocating at the United Nations. The next, she’s channeling Martha Stewart, making dainty table settings and fluttering about her kitchen like a Pinterest board come to life. Pamela, at least, has some consistency—what you see is what you get. Meghan? Well, she’s still figuring it out.
But hey, she did say she’s learning. Maybe by season two, she’ll learn to come up with her own ideas. Until then, Pamela Anderson fans are sharpening their knives—figuratively, of course.
