At the Fortune Most Powerful Women Summit, Meghan Markle gave what many on social media deemed a “cringe” moment, a brief pause that exposed a disconnect between expectation and reception. While speaking about her fledgling brand, As ever, Meghan reflected on the challenges of “year one” of launching a business. She explained that in early 2025, her team studied consumer behavior and trends ahead of her first product drop (in February/March). She claimed that “all SKUs sold out within under an hour,” calling this result “amazing.”
Immediately after making that declaration, she paused, seemingly expecting applause from the audience, but none came. Observers noted that the camera pulled back to reveal that the crowd remained silent. “The cringe moment when Meghan expects applause but gets silence,” an X user wrote alongside the clip. “The camera even backs out to show the audience NOT APPLAUDING!”
Other comments ranged from mocking to downright scathing, with users quick to share their thoughts on the clip. One person wrote that Meghan Markle “paused for applause that never came,” adding, “She thinks using a few key words makes her sound like she knows wtf she is talking about, but the masses know she has not got a clue.”
Another chimed in, “God, even I was uncomfortable. You can tell she knows nothing about what she’s talking about. It’s all word salad!” Others simply called the moment “awkward,” while one critic bluntly stated, “We continue to learn she is a fake.”
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Elsewhere, the Duchess of Sussex opened up about the balancing act of running a business while raising two young children. During the discussion, Shontell noted Meghan’s packed travel schedule, saying, “You’ve been all over the place, and we were talking backstage about how yes, you’ve been to Europe, you were just in New York… and you made it home for one day to see your kids?” Meghan Markle nodded, smiling as she acknowledged the whirlwind pace of her current life.
She shared that despite her growing business commitments, she makes it a priority to carve out time for Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, even if it means hopping across continents for a single day at home.
